Depreciation Calculation


In ERPNext, there's a global setting in the Accounts Settings under the Asset tab labeled "Calculate depreciation using total days in depreciation period". This checkbox allows users to choose between two methods of calculating depreciation.

Default Calculation (Straight Line Method - SLM with Pro Rata Basis)

When the checkbox is not enabled, the default calculation for per day depreciation is performed as follows:

  1. Calculate Annual Depreciation:

    • Divide the total purchase amount of the asset by the total number of years in the depreciation period.

  2. Annual Depreciation=Total Purchase AmountTotal Years in Depreciation Period\text{Annual Depreciation} = \frac{\text{Total Purchase Amount}}{\text{Total Years in Depreciation Period}}Annual Depreciation=Total Years in Depreciation PeriodTotal Purchase Amount​

  3. Calculate Daily Depreciation:

    • Divide the annual depreciation by the total number of days in the year, considering leap and non-leap years.

  4. Daily Depreciation=Annual DepreciationTotal Days in the Year\text{Daily Depreciation} = \frac{\text{Annual Depreciation}}{\text{Total Days in the Year}}Daily Depreciation=Total Days in the YearAnnual Depreciation​

Example:

  • Asset Purchase Amount: $36,500

  • Depreciation Period: 5 years

  • Year: 2023 (non-leap year, 365 days)

  1. Annual Depreciation:
    Annual Depreciation=36,5005=7,300\text{Annual Depreciation} = \frac{36,500}{5} = 7,300Annual Depreciation=536,500​=7,300

  2. Daily Depreciation:
    Daily Depreciation=7,300365≈20\text{Daily Depreciation} = \frac{7,300}{365} \approx 20Daily Depreciation=3657,300​≈20

Alternative Calculation (Using Total Days in Depreciation Period)

When the checkbox is enabled, the calculation for per day depreciation changes to:

  1. Calculate Daily Depreciation:

    • Divide the total purchase amount of the asset by the total number of days in the entire depreciation period.

  2. Daily Depreciation=Total Purchase AmountTotal Days in the Depreciation Period\text{Daily Depreciation} = \frac{\text{Total Purchase Amount}}{\text{Total Days in the Depreciation Period}}Daily Depreciation=Total Days in the Depreciation PeriodTotal Purchase Amount​

Example:

  • Asset Purchase Amount: $36,500

  • Depreciation Period: 5 years

  • Total Days in 5 years: 1,826 days (assuming one leap year within the 5 years)

  1. Daily Depreciation: Daily Depreciation=36,5001,826≈20\text{Daily Depreciation} = \frac{36,500}{1,826} \approx 20Daily Depreciation=1,82636,500​≈20

Summary

  • Default Method:

    • Annual Depreciation is divided by days in the current year.

  • Alternative Method:

    • Total Purchase Amount is divided by total days in the depreciation period.

This functionality allows users to select the depreciation method that best suits their financial reporting needs.

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