Question

Natalie is also thinking of buying a van that will be used only for business. The cost of the van is estimated at $38,500. Natalie would spend an additional $2,500 to have the van painted. In addition, she wants the back seat of the van removed so that she will have lots of room to transport her mixer inventory as well as her baking supplies. The cost of taking out the back seat and installing shelving units is estimated at $1,500. She expects the van to last her about 5 years, and she expects to drive it for 100,000 miles. The annual cost of vehicle insurance will be $2,400. Natalie estimates that at the end of the 5-year useful life the van will sell for $6,500. Assume that she will buy the van on August 15, 2018, and it will be ready for use on September 1, 2018. Natalie is concerned about the impact of the van’s cost on her income statement and balance sheet. She has come to you for advice on calculating the van’s depreciation. Instructions:

(a) Determine the cost of the van.

(b) Prepare a depreciation table for straight-line depreciation (similar to the one in Illustration 9-9). Recall that Cookie Creations has a December 31 fiscal year-end.

(c) What method should Natalie use for tax purposes? Provide a justification for your choice. Is she required to use the same approach for financial reporting and tax reporting?

Answer 1

(a) cost of the van = purchase price+cost of painting+cost of shelving

= 38500+2500+1500

= $42,500

(b) Cost = $42,500. No of years = 5. Salvage value = $6,500

Thus annual depreciation as per straight line method = (42500-6500)/5 = 36000/5 = $7,200 per year.

But depreciation for first year and last year will be proportionate. For 2018 depreciation will be for 4 months only i.e. september to december.

Year	Depreciable amount	Rate	Depreciation amount	Accumulated depreciation	Ending book value
2018	36,000.00	20%*4/12	2,400.00	2,400.00	40,100.00
2019	36,000.00	20%	7,200.00	9,600.00	32,900.00
2020	36,000.00	20%	7,200.00	16,800.00	25,700.00
2021	36,000.00	20%	7,200.00	24,000.00	18,500.00
2022	36,000.00	20%	7,200.00	31,200.00	11,300.00
2023	36,000.00	20%*8/12	4,800.00	36,000.00	6,500.00

(c) Natalie should use a special depreciation method for tax purposes like double declining balance method. Using an accelerated method, rather than the straight line method, will minimize income tax expenses in the early years of an asset’s life. Paying less tax will allow Natalie to use cash for other purposes.
Natalie is not required to use the same depreciation method for financial reporting and tax reporting. Like many businesses, she may choose straight-line depreciation for financial reporting and an accelerated method for tax reporting.