Journal Entry for Depreciation
Reduction in the value of tangible fixed assets due to normal usage, wear and tear, new technology or unfavourable market conditions is called Depreciation. Journal entry for depreciation depends on whether the provision for depreciation/accumulated depreciation account is maintained or not.
Assets such as plant and machinery, buildings, vehicles, furniture etc. which are expected to last more than one year, but not for an infinite number of years are subject to depreciation. Below journal entry for depreciation assumes that depreciation is charged directly to the asset account.
Journal entry for depreciation;
| Depreciation A/C | Debit |
| To Asset A/C | Credit |
(Assuming no provision/accumulated depreciation account is maintained)
Golden rules of accounting applied in the above journal entry are;
- Depreciation – Nominal Account > Dr. All expenses & losses
- Asset – Real Account > Cr. What goes out
To Transfer Depreciation into P&L
| Profit & Loss A/C | Debit |
| To Depreciation A/C | Credit |
After the asset’s useful life when all depreciation is charged throughout the years the asset approaches it scrap or residual value.
Related Topic – Why is Depreciation not Charged on Land?
Example
Let’s assume that a piece of machinery worth 1,00,000 is charged depreciation (Straight-line method) at 10%. The journal entry will be;
| Depreciation A/C | 10,000 |
| To Machinery A/C | 10,000 |
To Transfer it to the Income Statement
| Profit & Loss A/C | 10,000 |
| To Depreciation on Machinery A/C | 10,000 |
Short Quiz for Self-Evaluation
>Read Amortization with an example
