Depreciate or amortize fixed assets

Depreciation is used to allocate the cost of fixed assets, such as machinery and equipment, over their depreciable life. For each fixed asset, you must define how to depreciate it.

There are two ways to post depreciation:

  • Automatically, by running the Calculate Depreciation batch job.
  • Manually, by using the fixed asset G/L journal.

Business Central can calculate daily depreciation, which allows you to calculate depreciation for any period. You can therefore analyze current operating results on, for example, a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. The calculation uses a standard year of 360 days and a standard month of 30 days. For more information, see Depreciation Methods.

If several departments use a fixed asset, periodic depreciation can be automatically allocated to these departments according to a user-defined allocation table.

You can cancel incorrect depreciation entries by using the Cancel FA Ledger Entries batch job. Afterward, you can post the correct amount by running the Calculate Depreciation batch job again. The errors you correct are posted as fixed asset error ledger entries.

Indexation is used to adjust values for general price-level changes. You can use the Index Fixed Assets batch job to recalculate the depreciation amounts.

To calculate depreciation automatically

Once a month, or whenever you choose, you can run the Calculate Depreciation batch job. The batch job ignores fixed assets that were sold, are blocked or inactive, or use the manual depreciation method.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Calculate Depreciation, and then choose the related link.

  2. Fill in the fields as necessary. Hover over a field to read a short description.

  3. Choose the OK button.

    The batch job calculates the depreciation and creates lines in the fixed asset G/L journal.

  4. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter FA G/L Journals, and then choose the related link.

    On the Fixed Asset G/L Journal page, in the No. of Depreciation Days field, you can see how many days of depreciation were calculated.

  5. Choose the Post action.

Note

Note:
Known limitation: If you set the Use Force No. of Days field to Yes, and the Force No. of Days field is set to a value where Posting Date minus Number of Days results in a date in the previous calendar year, the system will not let you post the depreciation. You can avoid it by reducing the Force No. of Days field to no more than than the calculated days until posting date using 30days/month OR set the flag Fiscal Year 365 Days in the Depreciation Book. We recommend the first option as you may not want to change the use of 30days/months for depreciation. For more information, see Fiscal Year 365 Days Field Depreciation.

To post depreciation manually from the fixed asset G/L journal

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Fixed Asset G/L Journal, and then choose the related link.
  2. Create an initial journal line and fill in the fields as necessary.
  3. In the FA Posting Type field, select Depreciation.
  4. Choose the Insert FA Bal. Account action. A second journal line is created for the balancing account that is set up for depreciation posting. For more information, see To set up fixed asset posting groups.
  5. Choose the Post action to post the journal.

The Book Value field on the Fixed Asset Card page is updated accordingly.

If you set up fixed asset allocation keys to allocate amounts to different departments or projects, the amounts are allocated during posting. For more information, see Set Up General Fixed Assets Information.

To manage the ending book value

In the Ending Book Value field on the FA Depreciation Books page, you can specify the book value that you want your fixed asset to have in the current depreciation book after you fully depreciate it. You can enter the value manually, or you can fill in the Default Ending Book Value field on the related Depreciation Book page. The value automatically fills in the field.

Note

Note:
If the last depreciation means that the Book Value field on the Fixed Asset Card page is zero, the last depreciation is automatically reduced by this amount.

If the value in the Book Value field is greater than zero after the last depreciation, for example because of a rounding problem or because a salvage value exists, the value in the Ending Book Value field on the FA Depreciation Books page is ignored. For more information, see To post the salvage value together with the acquisition cost.

To calculate allocations for a Fixed Asset

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter FA Posting Groups, and then choose the related link.
  2. Choose Related, Posting Group, Allocations and then select Depreciation.
  3. Fill in the G/L accounts and the corresponding allocation percentages for each posting group and then close the page.
  4. Next, choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Fixed Asset G/L Journals, and then choose the related link.
  5. Enter the Fixed Asset and the corresponding FA Posting Group and Depreciation book will determine the allocation lines.
  6. Choose the Post action to post the journal.
Note

Note:
If a fixed asset is used by several departments, you can select the dimension on the Fixed Asset G/L Journal line.

Use duplication lists to prepare to post to multiple depreciation books

When you fill in journal lines to post to a depreciation book, you can duplicate the lines in a separate journal so you can post to a different depreciation book. For more information, see To post entries to different depreciation books.

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Depreciation Books, and then choose the related link.
  2. Open the depreciation book, and then select the Part of Duplication List check box.
Important

Important:
If you have selected the Use Duplication List field, do not use number series on the journal. The reason is that the number series for the fixed asset G/L journal does not the number series for the fixed asset journal.

To post entries to different depreciation books

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Fixed Asset G/L Journal, and then choose the related link.

  2. In the journal that you want to post depreciation with, select the Use Duplication List check box.

  3. Fill in the remaining fields as necessary.

  4. Choose the Post action.

  5. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter FA Journals, and then choose the related link.

    Note

    Note:
    The Fixed Asset Journal page contains new lines for different depreciation books according to the duplication list.

  6. Review or edit the lines, and then choose the Post action.

    Note

    Note:
    Another way to duplicate an entry in a separate book is to enter a depreciation book code in the Duplicate in Depreciation Book field when you fill in a journal line.

You can copy entries from one depreciation book to another by using the Copy Depreciation Book batch job. The batch job creates journal lines in the journal batch that you specified on the FA Journal Setup page for the depreciation book that you want to copy to. To learn more, go to To copy fixed asset ledger entries between depreciation books.

To copy fixed asset ledger entries between depreciation books

  1. Choose the Lightbulb that opens the Tell Me feature. icon, enter Depreciation Books, and then choose the related link.
  2. Open the relevant depreciation book card, and then choose the Copy Depreciation Book action.
  3. On the Copy Depreciation Book page, fill in the fields as necessary.
  4. Choose the OK button.

The copied lines are created in either the fixed asset G/L journal or the fixed asset journal, depending on whether the depreciation book that you're copying has integration to the general ledger.

See also

Fixed Assets
Setting Up Fixed Assets
Finance
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