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Depreciation: How to save taxes

Die Abschreibung ist ein wichtiger Aspekt für Unternehmen und Privatpersonen, um ihre finanzielle Situation zu verstehen und Steuern zu sparen. Es ist wichtig zu verstehen, wie sich Vermögenswerte im Laufe der Zeit abnutzen und wie dies die Steuerlast beeinflussen kann. In diesem Artikel werden wir die verschiedenen Arten von Abschreibungen untersuchen, wie sie berechnet werden und wie sie sich auf die Balance sheet and the Profit and loss account have an impact.

Key Takeaways

  • Depreciation and amortisation are impairments of assets.
  • Depreciation can save taxes, as it can be deducted as a business expense.
  • There are straight-line and declining-balance depreciation methods.
  • Straight-line depreciation distributes the loss in value evenly over the useful life.
  • The declining balance method of depreciation takes into account the higher depreciation in the first few years.

What is depreciation and amortisation?

Depreciation refers to the loss in value of assets over time. When a company or individual acquires an asset, such as a vehicle or machine, that asset will depreciate in value over time. This is because assets lose value due to wear and tear, ageing or technological changes.

Es gibt verschiedene Gründe, warum Vermögenswerte im Laufe der Zeit an Wert verlieren. Zum einen können sie durch den täglichen Gebrauch abgenutzt werden. Zum Beispiel kann ein Fahrzeug durch den regelmäßigen Gebrauch an Wert verlieren, da es sich abnutzt und möglicherweise Reparaturen erfordert. Zum anderen können Vermögenswerte auch an Wert verlieren, wenn neue Technologien auf den Markt kommen und die alten Vermögenswerte Obsolete become.

How can depreciation save taxes?

Depreciation can help to reduce taxable income and therefore save tax. When a company or individual acquires an asset, the loss in value of that asset over time can be claimed as a tax-deductible expense. This means that the loss in value of the asset can be deducted from taxable income, resulting in a reduction in the tax burden.

Ein Beispiel für die Steuerersparnis durch Abschreibungen ist ein Unternehmen, das ein neues Gebäude erwirbt. Das Unternehmen kann den Wertverlust des Gebäudes über einen bestimmten Zeitraum abschreiben und diese Abschreibung als Aufwand in der Profit and loss account are recognised. This reduces the company's taxable profit and therefore also the tax burden.

Types of depreciation and amortisation

Type of amortisation Description of the
Straight-line amortisation The acquisition costs are amortised evenly over the useful life.
Degressive amortisation The amortisation amounts decrease over time, as the amortisation rate is applied to the carrying amount still available.
Amortisation of benefits Amortisation is based on the actual performance of the asset.
Depreciation for wear and tear (AfA) Depreciation is a tax depreciation method in which the acquisition costs are amortised over the useful life.

There are different types of depreciation that can be used to account for the loss in value of assets over time. The two most common types of depreciation are straight-line depreciation and declining balance depreciation.

Straight-line depreciation is the simplest method for calculating depreciation. With this method, the loss in value of the asset is distributed evenly over its useful life. This means that the loss in value remains the same each year.

Decreasing balance depreciation, on the other hand, takes greater account of the loss in value of the asset in the first few years than in later years. This means that the loss in value decreases each year. This method is often used to take account of the rapid loss in value of assets in the first few years.

How does straight-line amortisation work?

Straight-line depreciation is the simplest method for calculating depreciation. With this method, the loss in value of the asset is distributed evenly over its useful life. To calculate straight-line depreciation, you need to know the acquisition value of the asset, the useful life and the residual value.

An example of the calculation of straight-line depreciation is a company that purchases a vehicle for 20,000 euros and has a useful life of 5 years. The residual value of the vehicle after 5 years is estimated at €5,000. To calculate the annual depreciation, simply subtract the residual value from the purchase value and divide the result by the useful life.

What is declining balance amortisation?

The declining balance method of depreciation takes greater account of the loss in value of the asset in the first few years than in later years. This means that the loss in value decreases each year. To calculate declining balance depreciation, you need to know the acquisition value of the asset, the useful life and the percentage of declining balance depreciation.

An example of the calculation of declining balance depreciation is a company that purchases a machine for 50,000 euros and has a useful life of 5 years. The percentage of declining balance depreciation is 20%. To calculate the annual depreciation, simply multiply the purchase value by the declining balance percentage and divide the result by the useful life.

How is depreciation calculated?

The calculation of depreciation depends on the method chosen. With straight-line depreciation, the loss in value is distributed evenly over the useful life. With declining balance depreciation, on the other hand, the loss in value is taken into account more in the first few years than in the later years.

To calculate depreciation, you need to know the acquisition value of the asset, the useful life and the residual value. For straight-line depreciation, simply subtract the residual value from the acquisition value and divide the result by the useful life. In the case of declining balance depreciation, multiply the acquisition value by the percentage of declining balance depreciation and divide the result by the useful life.

What needs to be considered when depreciating buildings?

There are some special features to consider when depreciating buildings. Firstly, the useful life of the building must be taken into account. The useful life of a building depends on various factors, such as the condition of the building, the type of use and local regulations.

An example of calculating the depreciation of a building is a company that acquires an office building for 1 million euros and has a useful life of 30 years. The residual value of the building after 30 years is estimated at 100,000 euros. To calculate the annual depreciation, simply subtract the residual value from the acquisition value and divide the result by the useful life.

How does amortisation affect the balance sheet?

The amortisation affects the Balance sheet aus, da sie den Wert der Vermögenswerte im Laufe der Zeit verringert. Wenn ein Vermögenswert abgeschrieben wird, wird der Wertverlust als Aufwand in der Gewinn- und Verlustrechnung verbucht und der Buchwert des Vermögenswerts in der Bilanz reduziert.

Depreciation also has an impact on the income statement, as it reduces the taxable profit. If an asset is depreciated, the loss in value is recognised as an expense, which leads to a lower taxable profit and therefore to a reduction in the tax burden.

How is depreciation taken into account in investment planning?

Bei der Investitionsplanung ist es wichtig, die Abschreibung zu berücksichtigen, da sie den Return on Investment (ROI). Depreciation reduces the taxable profit and therefore also the taxable income. ROI.

An example of how depreciation is taken into account in investment planning is a company that purchases a machine for 100,000 euros and has a useful life of 5 years. The company's annual profit is 50,000 euros. If the company uses straight-line depreciation, the annual depreciation is 20,000 euros. This means that the company's taxable profit is reduced to 30,000 euros, which leads to a reduction in ROI.

What are the tax advantages of amortisation?

Depreciation offers various tax advantages Advantages. Zum einen kann sie dazu beitragen, die steuerpflichtigen Einkünfte zu reduzieren und somit Steuern zu sparen. Wenn ein Vermögenswert abgeschrieben wird, wird der Wertverlust als Aufwand verbucht, was zu einer Verringerung des steuerpflichtigen Gewinns führt.

Another tax advantage of amortisation is the ability to write off investments more quickly and thus improve cash flow. If a company makes a large investment, it can amortise this investment over a shorter period and thus reduce the tax expense.

Conclusion

Depreciation is an important aspect for businesses and individuals to understand their financial situation and save tax. It is important to understand how assets depreciate over time and how this can affect the tax burden. By correctly calculating and accounting for depreciation, businesses and individuals can reduce their tax burden and improve their financial situation.

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