Finances are an inherent part of our everyday lives and on an everyday basis – we do come across the processes of depreciation, appreciation and other related processes in different forms. These processes may sound complicated to comprehend, but once we understand them and the outline of their functioning, we may conclude that they are actually simple and extremely essential.
Before we delve deeper into the processes of depreciation, we must go through the concept of bookkeeping. Bookkeeping is the backbone of a stable and well running business, as it involves keeping records of the financial affairs of the business. This process must be done judiciously with care and concern, as if it is taken lightly, it may circumstance in financial muddles and other such confusion.
The skill of bookkeeping is not easily learnt, and engaging in official and professional training for the same is beneficial – both for the individual and her respective business. To further understand the concept of bookkeeping as a whole, an individual can consider enrolling in a tally class in Ahmedabad.
What Is Depreciation?
Before we understand the process of depreciation as a whole, we need to don the economic eyeglasses and understand the concept of a fixed asset – as depreciation revolves wholly and solely around this concept.
A fixed asset is most often defined as a long-term asset used by a company/firm that holds a lasting period for over a year. These assets include land, big machines etc. – and depreciation involves constant decreasing of a specific/recorded cost on this very asset.
For instance, let us say that a firm purchases a steel grinding machine with a cost of Rs 400,000 and the expected working period of this specific machine is eight years, then it can be said that the firm depreciates the asset held under this process of depreciation at the cost of Rs 50,000 per year.
Thus, we can infer, from the given example, that it is the cost of the depreciation asset divided by the number of years the asset is put into use, which is considered as a certain ‘depreciative cost’ every year. (From the given example, we can infer that the asset is divided by eight years as the machine is used for eight years).
The principles and nuances of depreciation can be levied on every other fixed asset except land, as land is a particular asset whose value only appreciates with time and usage. The above description is a brief overview of depreciation, and further insight into depreciation can be gained in a tally computer course, to be considered in Ahmadabad, which the individual must consider attending.
Calculation Of Depreciation
There are multiple methods, using which depreciation can be calculated with both ease and efficiency. Yet, before we engage with the calculation process, there is a certain checklist of factors that we must keep in our mind, which are as follows –
- Life of the asset – The ‘life’ of the asset, or to be more specific, the ‘productive’ life of the asset refers to a certain period beyond which the mentioned asset is not considered useful. The mentioned asset loses its cost – affectivity post this period, and the operation of this very asset cannot be continued judiciously.
- Salvage Value – After the mentioned asset discards its cost-effectivity and is no longer useful for the company, losing its ability to contribute towards the functioning of the operation productively, the firm may consider selling the asset at a lower amount. This ‘lower amount’ is defined as the salvage value of the mentioned asset.
- The overall cost of the asset – As we engage with the process of depreciation, it is essential for us to keep in mind, the overall cost/total cost of the asset we are working with. This ‘overall cost’ does not merely include the cost of the asset, but it also includes production/set up expense, transport cost – so on and so forth.
A further and more thorough understanding of these factors can be obtained in the tally computer course in Ahmedabad. Attending this course can surely prove to be a knowledgeable and enriching experience for the individual who poses interest in the field of accounting, and specifically in the field of bookkeeping.
Finally, what is depreciation bookkeeping?
Depreciation Bookkeeping
After we thoroughly comprehend the processes of depreciation and make a checklist of certain, specific factors to keep in mind while engaging with this process, we must now move onto the main topic of depreciation bookkeeping, which is, in simpler words, the accounting/recording of the amount of depreciation suffered.
- Straight Line Depreciation Method – It involves the simple placement of a constant rate of depreciation every year, over the life of a fixed asset. This is not merely the easiest, but the most straightforward method of depreciation calculation which can also be classified as the method most commonly and easily used by companies.
Formula – Annual Depreciation expense = (Asset cost – Residual Value(5% of original cost of asset)) / Useful life of the asset
2. Written Down Value Method: Most of the companies are using the written down value method. The main reason of this depreciation method is that the actual realizable cost of the asset can be derived from this method of depreciation. In this method of depreciation, depreciation on assets is higher in the initial period and lesser in later years. This is because, asset value will be reduced more in the initial years and there after, maintenance cost increases and value of the asset will be decreasing but with a lesser amount.
The above methods of depreciation bookkeeping are just a brief insight into the vast field of accounting, knowledge about which can be furthered if the individual enrolls in the tally course in Ahmedabad.
Enrolling in the mentioned class is highly recommended, as professional insight into the processes of depreciation and related methods holds great water in the long run, benefitting both the individual and her firm as a whole, ensuring greater stability/smooth financial functioning of the firm, development of better customer relations, and most importantly, complete internal satisfaction to the person running/supervising the finances and the overall working of the firm.