Depreciation By TS Grewal
FAQs on Depreciation Explained: TS Grewal Class 11 Chapter 11 Solutions
1. What is meant by depreciation in Class 11 Accountancy?
In accounting, depreciation is the systematic and gradual decrease in the book value of a tangible fixed asset over its useful life. It is an accounting method used to allocate the cost of an asset over the period it is used to generate revenue. This decline in value can be due to usage, wear and tear, the passage of time, or obsolescence.
2. What are the primary causes of depreciation for a fixed asset?
The primary causes for an asset's value to depreciate include:
- Physical Wear and Tear: This occurs when an asset is used in business operations, causing its physical condition to deteriorate over time.
- Obsolescence: An asset becomes obsolete when a newer, more efficient technology or model becomes available, making the existing asset less useful or outdated.
- Passage of Time (Effluxion): Certain assets, like leases or patents, have a fixed legal life. Their value decreases as this time period expires, regardless of their usage.
- Depletion: This applies specifically to natural resources (like mines or quarries) and refers to the exhaustion of the resource as it is extracted.
3. How does the Straight Line Method (SLM) of calculating depreciation work?
The Straight Line Method (SLM) is the simplest way to calculate depreciation. Under this method, a fixed amount of depreciation is charged to the Profit and Loss Account every year throughout the asset's useful life. The formula is: (Cost of Asset - Estimated Salvage Value) / Estimated Useful Life. This method is also known as the 'Original Cost Method' because the depreciation percentage is applied to the original cost of the asset each year.
4. Can you explain the Written Down Value (WDV) method of depreciation?
The Written Down Value (WDV) method, also known as the Reducing Balance Method, calculates depreciation on the book value (Cost - Accumulated Depreciation) of the asset each year. As the book value decreases annually, the amount of depreciation charged also decreases. This method results in higher depreciation in the early years of an asset's life and lower depreciation in later years. The WDV method is widely recognised by tax authorities, including as per the Income Tax Act.
5. What is the main difference between the Straight Line Method (SLM) and the Written Down Value (WDV) method?
The key difference lies in the basis of calculation. In SLM, depreciation is calculated on the original cost of the asset, leading to a constant depreciation amount each year. In contrast, the WDV method calculates depreciation on the book value (or written-down value) of the asset, which results in a depreciation amount that reduces every year. Consequently, under SLM, an asset's value can be reduced to zero or its salvage value, whereas under WDV, the asset's book value never technically becomes zero.
6. Why is it important for a business to record depreciation on its assets?
Recording depreciation is crucial for several reasons:
- To Ascertain True Profit or Loss: Depreciation is a business expense. To calculate the accurate net profit or loss for an accounting period, all expenses, including depreciation, must be charged to the Profit and Loss Account.
- To Show a True and Fair Financial Position: If depreciation is not recorded, assets will be shown at a value higher than their actual worth in the Balance Sheet, which does not present a fair view of the company's financial health.
- For Legal Compliance: As per the Companies Act and Income Tax Act, it is mandatory to charge depreciation on fixed assets.
- To Arrange Funds for Asset Replacement: By charging depreciation, a portion of profits is retained in the business, which can be used to fund the replacement of the asset when it reaches the end of its useful life.
7. How are Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization different from one another?
While all three terms refer to the allocation of an asset's cost over time, they are applied to different types of assets:
- Depreciation is used for tangible fixed assets like machinery, buildings, and vehicles.
- Depletion is used for natural resources (wasting assets) such as mines, oil wells, and quarries. It represents the cost of the resource being consumed or extracted.
- Amortization is used for intangible assets like patents, copyrights, trademarks, and goodwill. It refers to writing off the cost of an intangible asset over its limited legal or useful life.
8. What key factors are needed to calculate the annual depreciation of an asset?
To accurately calculate the annual depreciation for an asset, you must consider three essential factors:
- Total Cost of the Asset: This includes the purchase price plus all expenses incurred to make the asset ready for use, such as freight, installation charges, and taxes.
- Estimated Useful Life: This is the period over which the business expects the asset to be productive and generate economic benefits.
- Estimated Salvage Value: Also known as residual or scrap value, this is the estimated amount the business expects to receive from selling the asset at the end of its useful life.





