Understanding Units of Production Depreciation: A Legal Overview

Definition & Meaning

Units of production depreciation is a method used to allocate the cost of a plant asset over its useful life based on the actual number of production units produced during a specific period. This approach allows businesses to match depreciation expense more closely with the asset's actual usage, making it an accelerated form of depreciation.

Table of content

Real-world examples

Here are a couple of examples of abatement:

For instance, a manufacturing company that produces 10,000 units of a product in a year may allocate depreciation based on that output. If the asset's cost is $100,000 and its estimated life is 50,000 units, the depreciation expense for that year would be $20,000 (calculated as $100,000 divided by 50,000 units multiplied by 10,000 units produced).

(Hypothetical example) A mining company may use a piece of equipment that can extract 1 million tons of ore over its lifetime. If it extracts 100,000 tons in a year, the depreciation expense for that year would be calculated similarly based on the actual production.

Comparison with related terms

Term Description Difference
Straight-Line Depreciation A method where an equal amount of depreciation expense is allocated each year. Units of production varies with usage, while straight-line is constant.
Declining Balance Depreciation An accelerated method that applies a fixed percentage to the remaining book value each year. Declining balance is based on book value, while units of production is based on actual output.

What to do if this term applies to you

If you are a business owner or accountant dealing with asset depreciation, consider using the units of production method if your asset's usage varies significantly. You can explore US Legal Forms for templates that help manage depreciation calculations and related documentation. For complex situations, consulting with a financial advisor or accountant may be beneficial.

Quick facts

  • Method Type: Accelerated depreciation
  • Usage: Based on actual production output
  • Asset Types: Applicable to tangible assets
  • Record Keeping: Requires precise tracking of production units

Key takeaways

Frequently asked questions

It is a method of depreciation that allocates an asset's cost based on the actual number of units produced during a period.