Depreciation

Depreciation of Assets

It is a fundamental accounting concept to match expenditure against the income that it helps to generate and for assets, this is done by depreciation.

First, the cost of the asset is capitalised and transferred to the University's balance sheet from the income and expenditure account. Then, in each accounting period, a depreciation charge is levied on the income and expenditure account to write off the cost. This means that the cost of these assets is split out over a number of years to reflect the contribution they make to the University’s services in future years.

In practical terms, this is done centrally in the Finance Division, so the responsibility of the department is to record the full value correctly in their accounts by selecting the correct purchasing category or project expenditure code when raising a requisition for the purpose of purchasing an equipment item.

For guidance on departmental depreciation for internal funded assets, please see Departmental Additions and Depreciation and: 

Guidance on Departmental Asset Additions Depreciation

 

 
  University policy on depreciation
Equipment Depreciated on a straight-line basis over 5 years
Specialised Equipment Depreciated on a straight-line basis over 7-10 years
Software Depreciated on a straight-line basis over 5 years
Heritage Not depreciated
Land Not depreciated
Property

Fabric of building - 50 years

Mechanical and Electrical (including pipe work) - 20 years

Fixtures and Fittings - 20 years

Equipment associated within a building project (usually fixed in place i.e. lifts) - 10 years

Building refurbishment - 20 years

Freehold Building Services - 20 years

Buildings on National Health Sites - 50 years

Leasehold Properties are reviewed on a case by case basis dependent on the life of the lease.

Landscaping (one-off cost >£100k) - 10 years

Depreciation and property

Properties that are owned by the University are recorded in the University's Asset Register at cost and it is this figure that is used as the starting point for the subsequent depreciation calculations. Rather than reflecting property values, which rise instead of diminish, this calculation reflects the expense to the University of maintaining the buildings so that they are in a habitable and useable state.

For example, it could be expected that after a number of years the wiring system of a building might become outdated and need replacing. If the building were to be sold at that point of time then it could realise a lower value than the original cost.

The depreciation is considered in isolation to the cost of any maintenance work that is undertaken on a building. These costs would be expensed in the year that they occurred. This is different from construction costs that are incurred when an extension to a property is built, for instance; in this case it is seen as an addition to the existing asset and it would be included in the value to be depreciated.

Related Content


Documents


Contact Us


 : Financial Reporting Team
       University of Oxford
       23-38 Hythe Bridge Street
       Oxford
       OX1 2ET
 : del@admin.ox.ac.uk