Difference Between Accumulated Depreciation and Depreciation Expense (With Table)

Estimating asset depreciation is a crucial component of accounting. It assists in determining their exact and correct value. This is also beneficial in methods such as taxation. Depreciation expense and accumulated depreciation are two types of depreciation that differ in several ways. It is critical to be aware of them just for the sake of accuracy.

Accumulated Depreciation vs Depreciation Expense

The main difference between accumulated depreciation and depreciation expense is that accumulated depreciation relates to an asset’s overall reduction in investment over a period of time. On the other hand, depreciation expense pertains to the expenses incurred on an asset during a specific year and disclosed at the final moment of that year.

Accumulated depreciation is the total depreciation expense that an asset has experienced over its entire life span. It covers a wide range of costs, including salaries, wage rates, travel, rent, and so much more. This amount is also deducted from the asset’s original cost. On the balance sheet, this leads to a negative value representation.

Depreciation expense, on the other hand, is only concerned with the valuation of an asset over time. This could be for a full year or maybe even a quarter of a year. This, like the previous, is an outlay. On the other hand, depreciation expense is reported in the ultimate income statement rather than on the balance sheet.

Comparison Table Between Accumulated Depreciation and Depreciation Expense

What is Accumulated Depreciation?

It is common knowledge that the price of an asset will depreciate over time. Accumulated depreciation is the term for this total loss of value. It considers the asset’s entire life cycle right up to the point at which accumulated depreciation is determined.

This amount must be depicted in the balance sheet at the close of the year once it has been calculated. The total always ends up being negative. But since depreciation is largely an expense, this is the case. Furthermore, because the asset’s entire life span is considered, it ends up being a large number.

There are several methods for calculating accumulated depreciation. The straight-line method is the most popular. In simple terms, it entails deducting the asset’s salvage value from its original cost. This quantity would then be divided by that of the asset’s total life span.

The double-declining balance method is another option. It’s very identical to the earlier one. The only thing that is different would be that the denominator is calculated as “1 divided by the asset’s useful life in years, multiplied by 2.” The amount is then credited to the balance sheet after it has been calculated.

What is Depreciation Expense?

Depreciation expense is also concerned with the loss of value of an asset. Unlike the former, however, depreciation expense only considers a specific time interval. This could be done on a quarterly or annual basis. It is also billed as an expense.

The amount is then displayed in the income statement after it has been calculated. This is completed at the close of the financial period. Furthermore, the sum is classified as a non-cash expense. This is due to the fact that it excludes any cash outflow. Nonetheless, it lowers the organization’s net income.

There are a number of widely used methods for calculating depreciation expenses. The straight-line method is one of them. This is done by subtracting the asset’s salvage value from its initial cost. This sum is then divided by the time interval over which depreciation is being computed.

The declining – balance, the double accumulated depreciation method, and the sum of the years’ digit’ method are some of the other methods. Each one has based on the premise that devaluation is inherently higher within the first few years of an asset’s use. Regardless, at the close of the financial period, the determined amount is deducted from the income statement.

Main Differences Between Accumulated Depreciation and Depreciation Expense

1. Accumulated depreciation is the total of all depreciation that an asset has experienced, whilst depreciation expense is an expense that has been borne on an asset during a specific interval.
2. Accumulated depreciation is estimated for the complete life of the asset, whereas depreciation expense is calculated for a specific year or quarter of a year, whereas
3. Accumulated depreciation is reported on the income statement, although depreciation expense is reported on the balance sheet.
4. Accumulated depreciation is credited while depreciation expense is debited.
5. Accumulated depreciation is estimated by subtracting the salvage value from the initial price and then dividing it by the asset’s life span, whereas depreciation expense is computed by deducting the salvage value from the original cost and then dividing it by the asset’s life span.

Conclusion

In the field of accounting, accumulated depreciation and depreciation expense are two crucial concepts. They all have similar personalities. They’re both concerned with asset depreciation. However, accumulated depreciation considers the asset’s entire life span right up to the point of calculation, whereas simple depreciation does not.

Depreciation expense, on the other hand, only applies to a specific financial period, such as a quarter or an entire year. Depreciation expense would be debited in the income statement, although accumulated depreciation is credited there in the balance sheet.

References

1. https://egrove.olemiss.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3041&context=wcpa
2. https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781547400638-007/html

Sandeep Bhandari

Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.