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Depreciation & Income Taxes

6 May, 2015 - 17:39

For tax purposes, the straight-line, declining-balance, sum-of-the-years-digits, and units-of-production methods of depreciation were allowed prior to 1981. Between 1980 and 1987, either the straight-line method or the Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS) could be used. The Tax Reform Act of 1986 revised the ACRS by providing a depreciation rate schedule for eight classes of plant assets. The use of an accelerated depreciation method reduces tax liabilities and increases cash flows.