The wearing out, consumption or other loss of value of an asset whether arising from use, passing of time or obsolescence through technological and market changes. It is accounted for by the allocation of the cost (or revalued amount) of the asset less its residual value over its useful life.
IIMM
Depreciation is the reduction in the value of an asset due to usage, passage of time, environmental factors, wear and tear, obsolescence, depletion or inadequacy.
LGAM
The consumption of infrastructure and other assets is reported in financial statements as depreciation. Depreciation is the systematic allocation of the depreciable amount of an asset over its useful life. The depreciation method used is to reflect the pattern in which the asset's future economic benefits are to be consumed by the entity.
There are at least 4 measures of asset consumption, each of which can be related to a method of depreciation:
- when consumption is constant over the useful life of the asset - straight line method,
- when consumption is greater in the early years and less in the later years - declining balance method,
- when consumption increases as the asset approaches the end of its useful life - output/service basis method,
- when consumption varies with outputs/service - units of production method.
AIFMG 2009
