In: Accounting
On August 3, Cinco Construction purchased special-purpose equipment at a cost of $7,653,800. The useful life of the equipment was estimated to be eight years, with an estimated residual value of $61,540. a. Compute the depreciation expense to be recognized each calendar year for financial reporting purposes under the straight-line depreciation method (half-year convention). b. Compute the depreciation expense to be recognized each calendar year for financial reporting purposes under the 200 percent declining-balance method (half-year convention) with a switch to straight-line when it will maximize depreciation expense. c. Which of these two depreciation methods (straight-line or double-declining-balance) results in the highest net income for financial reporting purposes during the first two years of the equipment’s use?
a) Depreciation per year under straight line method -
($7,653,800-$61,540)/8 = $949,033
Since half year convention is used, the depreciation in the first year will be $949,033/2 = $474,516
b) Depreciation rate under 200% double declining method =
200%/8 = 25%. First year only half the depreciation will be considered
The annual impact of both methods is given below -
Years | Straight Line Method | Declining Balance Method | Declining Balance Method with Switch | ||||||
Opening Balance | Depreciation | Closing Balance | Opening Balance | Depreciation @ 25% | Closing Balance | Opening Balance | Depreciation | Closing Balance | |
1 | 7,653,800 | 474,516 | 7,179,284 | 7,653,800 | 956,725 | 6,697,075 | 7,653,800 | 956,725 | 6,697,075 |
2 | 7,179,284 | 949,033 | 6,230,251 | 6,697,075 | 1,674,269 | 5,022,806 | 6,697,075 | 1,674,269 | 5,022,806 |
3 | 6,230,251 | 949,033 | 5,281,219 | 5,022,806 | 1,255,702 | 3,767,105 | 5,022,806 | 1,255,702 | 3,767,105 |
4 | 5,281,219 | 949,033 | 4,332,186 | 3,767,105 | 941,776 | 2,825,329 | 3,767,105 | 741,113 | 3,025,992 |
5 | 4,332,186 | 949,033 | 3,383,154 | - | 3,025,992 | 741,113 | 2,284,879 | ||
6 | 3,383,154 | 949,033 | 2,434,121 | - | 2,284,879 | 741,113 | 1,543,766 | ||
7 | 2,434,121 | 949,033 | 1,485,089 | - | 1,543,766 | 741,113 | 802,653 | ||
8 | 1,485,089 | 949,033 | 536,056 | - | 802,653 | 741,113 | 61,540 | ||
9 | 536,056 | 474,516 | 61,540 | - |
The switch over to straight line method will happen in year 4 as the depreciation under straight line method will be higher than declining balance method. The balance depreciation after the switch will be -
Book value at end of Year 3 = $ 3,767,105
Residual value = $61,540
No of years left = 5
Depreciation = (3,767,105 - 61,540)/5 = $741,113
For the first 2 years using declining balance method will result in higher net income as the annual depreciation is higher than in straight line method.