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The Daily Insight Hub

How does depreciation affect the profit?

Author

Jackson Reed

Updated on January 03, 2026

A depreciation expense has a direct effect on the profit that appears on a company’s income statement. The larger the depreciation expense in a given year, the lower the company’s reported net income – its profit. However, because depreciation is a non-cash expense, the expense doesn’t change the company’s cash flow.

What are the effects of depreciation?

The net income, retained earnings, and stockholders’ equity are reduced with the debit to Depreciation Expense. The carrying value of the assets being depreciated and amount of total assets are reduced by the credit to Accumulated Depreciation.

What happens when you sell a fully depreciated asset?

When you sell a depreciated asset, any profit relative to the item’s depreciated price is a capital gain. For example, if you buy a computer workstation for $2,000, depreciate it down to $800 and sell it for $1,200, you will have a $400 gain that is subject to tax.

Why is depreciation charged in P&L account?

Depreciation is the profit and loss account cost of fixed assets. This is achieved via a depreciation charge which is made to reduce the value of the fixed asset in the balance sheet and include the depreciation cost in the profit and loss account on a regular basis.

Does depreciation increase net income?

A depreciation expense reduces net income when the asset’s cost is allocated on the income statement. Depreciation is used to account for declines in the value of a fixed asset over time. As a result, the amount of depreciation expensed reduces the net income of a company.

Why is depreciation deducted from profit?

Depreciation and Net Income A depreciation expense reduces net income when the asset’s cost is allocated on the income statement. Depreciation is used to account for declines in the value of a fixed asset over time. In most instances, the fixed asset is usually property, plant, and equipment.

Is depreciation a tax deduction?

Depreciation is a tax deduction that allows you to recover the cost of assets that you purchase and use for your business. Once you’ve calculated depreciation, you must complete Form 4562 to claim your tax deduction for each asset. This form should be filed with your tax return.

Can you fully depreciate an asset?

Understanding Fully Depreciated Assets An asset can reach full depreciation when its useful life expires or if an impairment charge is incurred against the original cost, though this is less common. In that way, if the asset does not live out the expected life, the company does not incur an unexpected accounting loss.

Can you depreciate an asset to zero?

Depreciation is accounting’s way of recognizing that buildings, equipment, vehicles and other capital assets eventually deteriorate, break down and become obsolete. A fully depreciated asset can have an accounting value of zero, but that hardly means it’s worthless.

Is depreciation recorded in P&L?

The depreciation term is found on both the income statement and the balance sheet. On the income statement, it is listed as depreciation expense, and refers to the amount of depreciation that was charged to expense only in that reporting period.

What is the effect of depreciation on profit & Loss account?

Depreciation increases the debit side of profit and loss account and hence reduces net profit.

What does depreciation do to cash flow?

Depreciation does not directly impact the amount of cash flow generated by a business, but it is tax-deductible, and so will reduce the cash outflows related to income taxes. Thus, depreciation affects cash flow by reducing the amount of cash a business must pay in income taxes.