In common parlance depreciation means a fall in the quality or value of an asset. But in accounting terminology, the concept of depreciation refers to the process of allocating the initial or restated input valuation of fixed assets to the several periods expected to benefit from their acquisitions and use.
Depreciation accounting is a system of accounting which aims to distribute
the cost or other basic value of tangible capital assets, less salvage (if
any), over the estimated useful life of the unit (which may be a group of
assets) in a systematic and rational manner. It is a process of allocation and
not of valuation.
The international accounting standards committee (iasc) (now
international accounting standards board) defines depreciation as follows:
depreciation is the allocation of the depreciable amount of an asset over the
estimated useful life. The useful life is in turn defined as the period over
which a depreciable asset is expected to be used by the enterprise. The
depreciable amount of a depreciable asset is its historical cost in the
financial statements, less the estimated residual value. Residual value or
salvage value is the expected recovery or sales value of the asset at the end
of its useful life.
2.1.3.2
Causes Of Depreciation
Among other factors, the two main factors that contribute to the decline
in the usefulness of fixed assets are deterioration and obsolescence.
Deterioration is the physical process wearing out whereas obsolescence refers
to loss of usefulness due to the development of improved equipment or
processes, changes in style or other causes not related to the physical
conditions of the asset. The other causes of depreciation are:
1.
Efflux of time – mere passage of
time will cause a fall in the value of an asset even if it is not used.
2.
Accidents – an asset may reduce
in value because of meeting with an accident.
3.
Fall in market price – a sudden fall in the market
price of
4.
the asset reduces its value even if it remains
brand new.