Calculations and Averaging Conventions

Averaging conventions are used to determine the beginning and end of an asset's recovery period. The recovery period determines how much an asset depreciates in the first and last year of service. Rather than using the asset's in-service dates, LN uses these dates to calculate the depreciation amounts for the first and last year. The averaging conventions are used as information-only and are stored in the Fixed Assets module for use with the federal and other tax books.

LN distinguishes the following averaging conventions:

  • U.S. Averaging conventions.
  • European averaging conventions.
U.S. Averaging conventions:
None

The start date of depreciation is equal to the in-service date.

Mid-month

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the midpoint of the month in which the asset is placed in service.

Mid-quarter

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the midpoint of the quarter in which the asset is placed in service.

Half year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the midpoint of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

Modified half-year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the actual (following) fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service if the in-service date is in the first (second) half of a fiscal year.

Period in service

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the fiscal period in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

If you are using monthly periods and the in-service date is December 12, 2002, then the start date is December 1, 2002.

First day in-service year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

Example: If you are using monthly periods and the in-service date is December 12, 2002, then the start date is January 1, 2002.

Day after in-service year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day following the end of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

If the fiscal year ends June 30, 2002 and the in-service date is July 1, 2002, then the start date is July 1, 2002.

Period after in-service date

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day following the end of the fiscal period in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

An asset with a three-year life is placed in service on March 11, 2001. LN uses April, 2002 as the beginning of the recovery period.

First/second half of year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the fiscal year (second half of the fiscal year) in which the asset is placed in service if the in-service date is in the first (second) half of a fiscal year.

Second half of in-service year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the second half of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

European averaging conventions:
None

The start date of depreciation is equal to the in-service date.

Mid-month

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the midpoint of the month in which the asset is placed in service.

Mid-quarter

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the midpoint of the quarter in which the asset is placed in service.

Half year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the midpoint of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

Modified half-year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the actual (following) fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service if the in-service date is in the first (second) half of a fiscal year.

Period in service

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the fiscal period in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

If you are using monthly periods and the in-service date is December 12, 2002, then the start date is December 1, 2002.

First day in-service year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

If you are using monthly periods and the in-service date is December 12, 2002, then the start date is January 1, 2002.

Day after in-service year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day following the end of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

If the fiscal year ends June 30, 1998 and the in-service date is July 1, 2001, then the start date is July 1, 2002.

Period after in-service date

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day following the end of the fiscal period in which the asset is placed in service.

Example

An asset with a three-year life is placed in service on March 11, 2001.

LN uses April, 2002 as the beginning of the recovery period.

First/second half of year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the fiscal year (second half of the fiscal year) in which the asset is placed in service if the in-service date is in the first (second) half of a fiscal year.

Second half of in-service year

The start date of depreciation is calculated as the first day of the second half of the fiscal year in which the asset is placed in service.

The end date of depreciation is calculated as the start date of depreciation plus the life of the asset minus one day.