Wednesday 24 June 2015

Approaches To Cost Segregation Depreciation

By Freida Michael


Studies for this process are encouraged to be undertaken by businesses and individuals who have properties that can depreciate because of its effect on financial accounting, income tax, property tax and insurance purposes. So cost segregation depreciation is very important to individuals and companies to help them not to overcharge their income as depreciation amount may be tax allowable.

The benefit of this practice include gradual cash flow increase, cutting down tax liability, leads to tax deferral and individuals can claim refunds on tax overcharge paid in the previous years without changing their tax return.

The practice allows individuals to reapportion real asset to specific properties. This will lead reduced tax life of an asset and facilitate depreciation methods. Depreciation has a negative effect on the income statement of a firm as it reduces disposal income.

The frequently used techniques for segregation of outlay include detailed engineering technique which is based from initial expenditure records, letter approach also known as survey technique, residue estimation method and finally modeling or sampling method.

This engineering technique has several steps that will be explained below. This approach is also known as detailed expenditure. The method uses the charge of that period of construction and records used for accounting in computing depreciation amount of an asset.

This technique is believed to be accurate and methodical approach to use. This is because it depends on tangible documentations and it does not use estimations. Documents such as specifications, contracts, blueprints, job reports, invoices, payment request and change orders are utilized to evaluate unit charge.

This use of source document or actual records results to accurate allocation of expenditure, but still the method may face challenges of classification of property specifically. The technique is most appropriate for new construction only because of the comprehensive expenditure files available.

Scrap value is the amount a property can be sold at or fetch at the end of it useful life. Then reducing balance method is a technique that depreciates an asset yearly. The depreciation charge in the first year reduces the initial outlay of asset in the following year. The asset is depreciated year by year until its economic life is over.

Engineering approach is systematic and more accurate as compared to the rest of approaches. The approach is accurate because it uses less estimated figures and rather takes only the cost amounts as documented.

Thoroughly counter checking of blueprints, contracts, documents for bid, payment request from suppliers and specifications for verification. Prepare take offs quantitatively for the entire material used in construction and utilize records for payments to calculate unit costs. Recognize and allocate specific items from the project to their respective classes such as buildings, land, equipment, fixtures and fittings and other non current assets.

The next step is relating unit charge to specific asset component to verify the total outlay. Reconcile the two expenditures, that is charge from take off and total initial outlay. Then apportion indirect charges to respective properties. This indirect outlays include engineering fees, permit charges and architectural charges. Classify asset with same class lives and calculate their depreciation. This method is the most time consuming but is preferred since it is more accurate.




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