Can you please tell me why I do not calculate depreciation based on $440,000?
On January 1 of the current year, Tell Co. leased equipment from Swill Co. under a 9-year sales-type lease. The equipment had a cost of $400,000 and an estimated useful life of 15 years. Semiannual lease payments of $44,000 are due every January 1 and July 1. The present value of lease payments at 12% was $505,000, which equals the sales price of the equipment. Using the straight-line method, what amount should Tell recognize as depreciation expense on the equipment in the current year?
A.$26,667
B.$33,667
C.$44,444
D.$56,111
The correct answer is D
Tell Co. must treat the lease as a capital lease because the present value of the minimum lease payments exceeds 90% of the fair value (sales price) of the equipment. Tell's cost equals the present value of $505,000. The question does not indicate or imply that Tell guarantees any residual value or that ownership transfers at the end of the 9-year lease. Therefore, the depreciable cost of $505,000 must be charged to depreciation over the period of use, which is the lease term of 9 years. The depreciation expense for the current year (one full year's depreciation) is $505,000 ÷ 9 years, or $56,111.
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