Depreciation is the declining value of a fixed asset throughout its usable life. It’s used in accounting to spread the cost of an asset across a longer period of time so you can claim tax relief on it, as well as giving a better idea of what a business is worth.
In this article we’ll take a look at the most frequently asked questions around depreciation for business assets, and go over how you can navigate this tricky topic.
How does depreciation work?
When something ‘depreciates’ it loses value. In general, the longer something is used, the more value it loses. Think of it like a second-hand car going down in value for every mile driven.
For example
Your business bought a new iMac 5 years ago. Unlike rare art or fine wine which might become more valuable, its highest value is likely to have been when it was new.
With inevitable wear and tear, and new models constantly entering an already saturated market, its value is even more likely to decrease over time.
Why do businesses use depreciation?
Tracking depreciation is useful for several reasons, such as:
- Working out the value of a business including the assets it owns
- Claiming Capital Allowances – where you can claim tax relief on long-term assets (commonly referred to as ‘fixed’ or ‘capital’ assets) that have a lifespan of 12 months or more
How does depreciation work for tax relief?
In some cases, you can claim tax relief on an asset’s value in the year you buy it and split the costs evenly over its duration in your business – but in other cases, you need to calculate its depreciation and claim tax relief on the asset’s value each year throughout its ‘useable life’.
This doesn’t apply to just computers and laptops; it can be used for any long-term tangible or physical assets which are eligible for Capital Allowances – such as software development, company cars, or machinery. This means you can spread out the tax relief too, so you’ll get a smaller reduction to your tax bill each year, but over a longer period of time – rather than a massive reduction in just one year.
How do I calculate depreciation on my capital assets?
There are two common ways to calculate depreciation on your capital assets:
- Straight-line depreciation
- Reducing balance depreciation
Straight-line depreciation
Straight-line depreciation involves taking the original cost of your fixed asset and dividing it by the number of years you’ve estimated the asset to be of use. Once you’ve worked that number out, it will then be added as a cost each year on your profit and loss account.
If your business buys an asset worth £1,000 at the start of the financial year and you believe it will last 4 years, you’ll divide £1,000 by 4, so the asset will depreciate by £250 each year.
Reducing balance depreciation
Reducing balance depreciation is used for the assets that have a higher value in the earlier years of their life – things like laptops, cameras, printers, etc. You’ll expense this at a percentage rate, charging more depreciation at the start, and less toward the end of the asset’s life.
For example, a company purchases a high-tech camera worth £5,000, and estimates it’ll lose 20% of its value each year. The first step is to multiply the value (£5,000) by the rate it will depreciate each year (20%) which gives £1,000. This means that the value of the asset depreciates by £1,000, so its value in Year 2 is £4,000 (the original value minus the amount it depreciated).
They believe the camera will last 4 years, so their calculations from then on will look like the table below.
| Year | Asset Value | Reducing Balance | Depreciation Asset value x Reducing Balance |
Accumulated Depreciation |
| 1 | £5,000 | 20% | £5,000 x 20% = £1,000 |
£1,000 |
| 2 | £5,000 – £1,000 = £4,000 |
20% | £4,000 x 20% = £800 |
£1,800 |
| 3 | £4,000 – £800 = £3,200 |
20% | £3,200 x 20% = £640 |
£2,440 |
| 4 | £3,200 – £640 = £2,560 |
20% | £2,560 x 20% = £512 |
£2,952 |
If this seems complicated – it’s because it is! If you’re struggling, you can find software that helps you calculate the depreciation of your assets, or ask your accountant.
What is the difference between straight-line and reducing balance depreciation?
The straight-line method expenses the same amount of depreciation each year and doesn’t account for the assets’ higher level of productivity at the beginning of its useful life. It is much easier to calculate though, especially if you’re a freelancer or a small business.
The reducing balance method charges depreciation as a percentage of the fixed assets’ book value. This method is useful if you’re dealing with a particular asset that has higher productivity in its early life.
Both methods have one thing in common, they’re based on time rather than usage. This means the two methods consider the value of the asset will eventually decline.
Why is depreciation important for a business to monitor?
Depreciation is classed as a cost within your business, and that’s because your assets over time will eventually need to be replaced. It’s always good practice to include depreciation in your profit and loss statements and subtract the number from your revenue when you calculate your profit.
If you don’t do this, you may end up overestimating how much profit you’ve made – so it’s always good to keep this in mind!
Where does depreciation go on my income statement?
Your depreciation expenses will be listed with any other normal expenses you have on your income statement (also known as your profit and loss account). If you do find yourself confused about where your depreciation should be, speak to your bookkeeper or accountant for more advice.
Confused? We know how tricky depreciation can be! If you don’t have an accountant yet and need a hand, call us on 020 3355 4047 or get an instant quote online.
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