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Calculating profit/loss on the sale of an asset

Assets perform several calculations to make up the journal entry for the sale. The calculation of profit or loss on the sale of an asset may differ.

For example, consider the following scenario:

BMW 3 Series Sedan

Taxation details

Accounting details

Current financial year

2018

2018

Date asset began depreciating

27/03/2014

27/03/2014

Original cost

$ 67,950

$ 67,950

Motor vehicle cost limit at the year of purchase (AU only)

$ 57,466

N/A

Opening written down value (OWDV)

$ 22,645 **

$ 26 801

Depreciation rate / method

25% diminishing value

25% diminishing value

Date of sale

02/11/2017 (125 days held this FY)

02/11/2017 (125 days held this FY)

Consideration

$ 25,000

$ 25,000

Taxation journal explained

 

Description

Formula

Example

A

Write back accumulated depreciation

Original cost – opening written down value (OWDV)

Motor vehicle (MV) cost limit – OWDV (for vehicles subject to cost limit)

57,466 – 22,645 = 34,821

B

Apply depreciation for the current year, up to the date of sale

(NZ) In the year a Taxation Asset is sold, no depreciation for that year is applied.

OWDV * rate * days held / days in the year

22,645 * 0.25 * 125 / 365 = 1938.78

C

i). Calculate closing adjusted value (CAV)

 

OWDV – Accumulated depreciation for days held this financial year

22,645 - 1938.78 = 20,706.22

ii) Calculate adjusted termination value (if applicable)

[(MV cost limit + second element costs) / total cost of car] * termination value

(see ITAA97 s 40-325 and ITAA97 s 40-320)

[(57466 + 0) / 67950] * 25000

= 21,143

iii) Calculate the assessable profit or loss on sale for tax purposes

Adjusted termination value – closing adjusted value

21,143 - 20706.47

= 436.75 **

D

Write back original cost of the asset.

E

Balance the journal by offsetting the net to the Realisation account.

** subject to rounding

Accounting journal explained

 

Description

Formula

Example

A

Write back accumulated depreciation.

Original cost – opening written down value (OWDV)

67950 – 26801 = 41,149

B

Apply depreciation for the current year, up to the date of sale

OWDV * rate * days held / days in the year

26801 * 0.25 * 125 / 365 = 2294.62

C

Calculate closing adjusted value (CAV), then calculate the profit or loss on the sale.

OWDV – Accumulated depreciation for days held this financial year

Consideration – closing adjusted value

26 801 - 2294.62 = 24,506.38

25,000 - 24506.38 = 493.62

D

Write back the original cost of the asset.

E

Balance the journal by offsetting the net to the Realisation account.