See Also:
Straight Line Depreciation
Double Declining Depreciation Method
Accelerated Method of Depreciation
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
Generally Accepted Accounting PrinciplesMACRS Definition
The modified accelerated cost recovery system (MACRS) method of
depreciation assigns specific types of
assets to categories with distinct accelerated depreciation schedules. MACRS is required by the IRS for tax reporting but is not approved by
GAAP for external reporting.
MACRS Depreciation CalculationTo calculate depreciation for an asset using MACRS, first determine the asset’s classification, and then use the table (below) to find the appropriate depreciation schedule.
When using MACRS, an asset does not have any salvage value – the asset is always depreciated down to zero, since the sum of the depreciation rates for each category always adds up to 100%. When calculating depreciation expense for MACRS, always use the original purchase price of the asset as the depreciable base for each period. Note that each category is depreciated for one year longer than its classification period. An asset classified under 3-Year MACRS is depreciated for 4 years, an asset classified under 5-Year MACRS is depreciated for 6 years, and so on.
MACRS Example For example, an asset purchased for $100,000 that falls into the 3-Year MACRS category shown below, would be depreciated as follows:
Year Depreciation Rate Depreciation Expense
1 33.33% $33,330 (33.33% x $100,000)
2 44.45% $44,450 (44.45% x $100,000)
3 14.81% $14,810 (14.81% x $100,000)
4 7.41% $7,410 (7.41% x $100,000)
MACRS Depreciation TableBelow is the table for Half-Year Convention MACRS for 3, 5, 7, 10, 15, and 20 year depreciation schedules.
Depreciation Rates (%)
Year 3-Year 5-Year 7-Year 10-Year 15-Year 20-Year
1 33.33 20 14.29 10 5 3.75
2 44.45 32 24.49 18 9.5 7.219
3 14.81 19.2 17.49 14.4 8.55 6.677
4 7.41 11.52 12.49 11.52 7.7 6.177
5 11.52 8.93 9.22 6.93 5.713
6 5.76 8.92 7.37 6.23 5.285
7 8.93 6.55 5.9 4.888
8 4.46 6.55 5.9 4.522
9 6.56 5.91 4.462
10 6.55 5.9 4.461
11 3.28 5.91 4.462
12 5.9 4.461
13 5.91 4.462
14 5.9 4.461
15 5.91 4.462
16 2.95 4.461
17 4.462
18 4.461
19 4.462
20 4.461
21 2.231
MACRS and the IRSFor more detailed information regarding MACRS, go to:
irs.gov/publications