When you run a small business, depreciating your equipment can help offset the purchase costs through tax savings. When handling the depreciation for your property, you get to choose which method you ...

If you take a bite into an apple and let it sit, over time, the bite mark will begin to brown. That browning is a lot like "depreciation." Depreciation in accounting means to spread the cost of buying ...

Depreciation is the recovery of the cost of a physical asset, like property or equipment, over multiple years. It allows companies to spread out the cost of some expenses, reduce taxable income and ...

Assets like equipment, vehicles and furniture lose value as they age. Parts wear out and pieces break, eventually requiring repair or replacement. Depreciation helps companies account for the ...

Peter Gratton, Ph.D., is a New Orleans-based editor and professor with over 20 years of experience in investing, risk management, and public policy. Peter began covering markets at Multex (Reuters) ...

Depreciation expense can be a big portion of a company’s total expense. And since expenses decrease income, it affects the overall value of a company. Understanding what it is and the methods can help ...

Investopedia contributors come from a range of backgrounds, and over 25 years there have been thousands of expert writers and editors who have contributed. Khadija Khartit is a strategy, investment, ...

Accumulated depreciation is the sum of an asset’s depreciation expense. It’s calculated from the start of its use to a specific date. It’s also a contra-asset account. That means it decreases the ...

Depreciation recapture taxes gains from selling depreciated property as ordinary income, reclaiming prior tax benefits. If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably bought at least some property to use ...

Depreciation reflects asset value loss over time, affecting financial statements. Straight-line method spreads depreciation evenly, while accelerated front-loads expenses. Understanding depreciation ...