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Sum of the Years' Digits Method of Depreciation:

Definition and Explanation:

This method is introduced by American accountants. It is an improvement over diminishing balance method of depreciation. Here also the depreciation charge constantly reduces. This method is normally applied to fairly long lived assets. Unlike the diminishing balance method, a constantly decreasing rate is applied on the original cost. Hence the original book value is, like straight line method, reducible to zero. The determination of rate of depreciation is very simple. It simply sums up the years in an asset's lifespan to be used as denominator, and reverses the individual year numbers to be used as numerator.

Example:

Suppose the cost, residual value and life of the asset are :

Cost $75,000
Residual value $3,000
Life of the asset 8 Years

The denominator will be:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 = 36

The numerators from first to 8th year will respectively be 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1. Applying the rate to the depreciable cost 'original cost - residual value' i.e., $72,000, the depreciation charges for the first eight years will be:

Year Opening book value Depreciable cost Rate Depreciation Total depreciation Written down value
1 75,000 72,000 8/36 16,000 16,000 59,000
2 59,000 72,000 7/36 14,000 30,000 45,000
3 45,000 72,000 6/36 12,000 42,000 33,000
4 33,000 72,000 5/36 10,000 52,000 23,000
5 23,000 72,000 4/36 8,000 60,000 15,000
6 15,000 72,000 3/36 6,000 66,000 9,000
7 9,000 72,000 2/36 4,000 70,000 5,000
8 5,000 72,000 1/36 2,000 72,000 3,000

Formula:

Sum of year's digits can be easily computed by the following formula:

S = n (n + 1)/2

Where:

S = Sum of years

n = number of years of useful life of assets.

Applying it when n = 8 years.

S = 8 (8 + 1)/2 = 72/2 or 36

 

More study material from this topic:

Definition, explanation and causes of depreciation
Depreciation is not a matter of valuation but a means of cost allocation
Activity method of depreciation
Straight line method of depreciation
Sum of the years' digits method of depreciation
Reducing balance method
Annuity method
Depreciation fund method or sinking fund method
Insurance policy method
Revaluation method
Depletion method
Machine hour rate, mileage, and global method
Methods of recording depreciation
Reserves
Difference between general reserve and specific reserve
Difference between capital reserve and general reserve
Difference between reserve and reserve fund
Difference between provision and reserve




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