Calculator Inputs
This page uses one stacked layout overall. The calculator fields switch to three, two, or one columns based on screen size.
Example Data Table
| Asset | Cost Basis | Salvage Value | Useful Life | Method | Business Use % | Tax Rate % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office Equipment | $25,000.00 | $2,000.00 | 5 Years | Straight-Line | 100% | 25% |
| Delivery Vehicle | $42,000.00 | $5,000.00 | 6 Years | Declining Balance | 90% | 28% |
| Production Machine | $60,000.00 | $4,000.00 | 8 Years | Units of Production | 100% | 24% |
Formula Used
Adjusted Cost = Cost Basis × Business Use %
Adjusted Salvage = Salvage Value × Business Use %
Depreciable Base = Adjusted Cost − Adjusted Salvage
Bonus Depreciation = Remaining Eligible Base × Bonus Rate
Tax Shield = Total Deduction × Tax Rate
Straight-Line = Remaining Depreciable Base ÷ Useful Life, adjusted by first-year convention where selected.
Declining Balance = Book Value × Factor ÷ Useful Life, with a straight-line catch-up check.
Sum-of-Years-Digits = Depreciable Base × Remaining Life ÷ Sum of Year Digits.
Units of Production = Depreciable Base ÷ Expected Total Units × Units Produced Each Year.
This implementation is a practical planning model. Real tax depreciation rules may vary by asset class, jurisdiction, elections, and filing year.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the asset name, cost basis, salvage value, and useful life.
- Choose the placed-in-service year and acquisition month.
- Set business use percentage, tax rate, Section 179 amount, and bonus percentage if needed.
- Select a depreciation method that matches your planning scenario.
- For declining balance, enter the factor. For units of production, enter total expected units and yearly units.
- Click Calculate Depreciation to see the result above the form.
- Review the yearly schedule, graph, and estimated tax shield.
- Use the CSV or PDF buttons to export your depreciation schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What is tax depreciation?
Tax depreciation is the deduction allowed for the gradual write-off of qualifying business assets over time. It helps spread the asset’s cost across useful years instead of expensing the full amount immediately.
2) Which depreciation method should I choose?
Choose the method that matches your planning purpose and local tax rules. Straight-line gives even deductions, declining balance accelerates earlier deductions, and units of production follows actual asset usage.
3) Why is salvage value included?
Salvage value represents the expected residual value at the end of useful life. It reduces the depreciable base in this model so the asset is not depreciated below its projected remaining value.
4) How do Section 179 and bonus depreciation work here?
This calculator applies Section 179 first, then bonus depreciation, and finally the selected annual method. That gives you a practical sequence for estimating accelerated write-offs and the remaining depreciable amount.
5) Why does business-use percentage matter?
Only the business-use portion is generally relevant for business depreciation planning. The calculator reduces cost and salvage values by the selected business-use percentage before building the schedule.
6) What does the first-year convention change?
The first-year convention adjusts the opening year deduction. Half-year and mid-month settings reduce the first period amount, which changes later timing and may extend part of the deduction into an extra year.
7) Can I use this as my filed tax depreciation schedule?
Use it for planning, review, and discussion. Final filed schedules should follow current law, asset classification rules, local forms, and advice from a qualified accounting or tax professional.
8) Why can exported totals differ by a few cents?
Displayed values are rounded to two decimals for readability. Small rounding differences can appear in exported views, especially across long schedules, but the underlying schedule logic still follows the same calculation path.