Useful Life (Definition, Examples) |What is Asset's Useful Life

Useful Life Definition

Useful life is the estimated time period for which the asset is expected to be functional and can be put it to use for company’s core operations and serves as an important input for calculating depreciation for assets which affects the profitability and carrying value of the assets.

How to Determine?

It is an estimation of a period until which the asset can be put to use, and it contributes to generating revenue. The following are the factors considered in determining it –

Usage of the Asset – If the usage of the asset is more, then the useful life of the asset will reduce due to wear and tear, and it will get deteriorated rapidly.
A newly procured asset will last longer than an already used asset since the same is already being put to use.
When there are technological advancements, the asset will become obsolete as the same will no longer match the requirements of the current market.
Any legal restriction, or any limits for the usage of the asset.
The asset may last longer than it’s estimated useful life, but the cost of maintenance of assets will considerably go high after a point of time. Over time the asset may become obsolete and major repairs can happen. It is determined based on how long the asset can be used before replacement.

Useful Life of Equipment

Every asset has its period of usability after which it cannot be put to use, or it will be obsolete. The useful life of assets will vary according to its nature, usage of the asset, company’s replacement policy, etc.

There are estimations of available based on the nature of asset provided by the accounting body, Company can adopt the same for their assets, or they can make their own assessment based on the proper asset valuation.

Impact on Depreciation

Useful life is the estimated life of a depreciable asset until which it can be put to use for revenue-generating operations. It directly impacts depreciation expense as depreciation is calculated based on the number of years of assets life. More it is, lesser will be the depreciation and vice versa.
Any change in it will alter the depreciation expense, and it will have an impact on the profitability of the business. If depreciation is more, the profitability will reduce. However, depreciation is a non-cash expenditure so the same will affect the cash flow of the business.
Depreciation will be considered only when this life of the asset is more than a year. Eg. building, vehicles, etc. When an asset is procured the entire cost of the asset is not expensed off as the same is capitalized and it is depreciated over the useful life of the asset.

Examples of Useful Life

Below are the examples to understand the concept in a better manner –

Example #1

X Corp purchased a vehicle for transportation of its goods from its factory to the warehouse. The cost of the vehicle is $55,000 and it’s expected useful life is 10 years and the salvage value is $5,000.

Solution

Calculation of depreciation will be as follows,

Depreciation under straight-line method = (Cost of the asset – salvage value)/ Useful life

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= ($55,000 -$5,000)/10
= $5,000 per annum

So the impact of profitability on account of depreciation is $5,000 Per annum.

Example #2

In case if the company estimates the useful life of the vehicle as 12 years with the same salvage value. So the revised depreciation calculation will be as follows:

Solution

Calculation of depreciation will be as follows,

Depreciation under straight-line method = ($55,000 – $5,000)/ 12

Depreciation = $4,167 per annum.

So the impact on profitability will be $4,167 Per annum. There is an improvement in profitability to the extent of $833 per annum.

Change in asset’s life or any revision is done prospectively and for reported no of earlier years need not be changed. The prior period reported values need not be changed as it is not an accounting error and it is an estimation, change in estimation is an inherent element.

Example #3

In the above case, if the revision of its useful life is done at the end of 5^th year. The depreciation is already provided for 5 years as per 10 yrs. The depreciation provided is $25,000 ($5,000 Per Annum* 5 yrs). The book value of a vehicle will be $30,000. Since the life is revised as 12 years (ie) another 7 yrs instead of 5 yrs.

Solution

Calculation of depreciation will be as follows –

Depreciation = (Historical cost of the asset – Accumulated depreciation – Salvage value)/ Remaining useful life

= ($55,000 – $25,000 – $5000)/7
= $3571 per annum.

The above depreciation is a non-cash expenditure, the cash outflow happened at the time of purchase of a vehicle, and there won’t be any yearly impact.

For the purpose of tax depreciation, it is an allowable expense, but the method of computation of depreciation is an accelerated method.

Difference Between Useful and Physical Life

Useful life is the time period till which asset is effectively used in operations, whereas physical life is the time period till which the asset will be in physical form and after which it has no salvage value.
The physical life of the asset can be known only after the asset’s life ends, whereas useful life will be determined even before the asset is put to use based on the usage, nature, and other factors. There can be many factors that make an asset unusable economically, but it will be physically available.

Conclusion

Useful life is an estimation and the actual life of the asset maybe even more or it can less. It has to be considered after proper evaluation and considering all the factors. It is considered as a key element in asset recording and valuation as the depreciation and carrying value of the asset depends on it and it has a direct impact on profitability. It can always be revised considering the present technology, the asset being obsolete, higher usage, etc.

Useful Life