Entering in Fixed Asset? Accounting Books?

Ask your accountant. If you're making money, you may want to expense the whole thing. If you're not - or plan to make even more next year - you may want to depreciate. Depreciation simply moves the expense to subsequent years. (Sometimes you HAVE to depreciate, but not for a piddly $3800.)

Fixed assets have no effect on the income statement. They are like any other asset on the balance sheet, that is, they sum into "Total Assets."

Your very best course of action, bar none, is Bookkeeping 101 at your local junior college.

I don't think he can wait out a semester. Might look for a "For Dummies" or "Made Simple" book. They won't make you an expert. Hopefully they'll make you understand when you need to call your professional and understand the answers.

Hello,

You will have to enter the computer as a fixed asset. By doing this, it will show up in you balance sheet on the asset side and then you depreciate it every year. There is no effect of any fixed asset on the income statement except for the depreciation which shows up on the debit side of the P/L and reduces your profit. Fixed Asset increases you asset value in the balance sheet.

Please let me know if I am clear enough. If not, I am ready to explain further.

Warm Regards, Victor

In respect to materiality concerns, in most cases any asset purchases exceeding $1000 should be booked as fixed assets with a corresponding Accumulated Depreciation account.

Also, the IRS and the CRA have rules regarding depreciations of fixed assets. I know that the CRA has a schedule of fixed asset classes, and there are different depreciation rates for different types of assets. Eg. computers at 45%, and vehicles 30%. Software on the other hand, is usually booked as an expense.

The purchase of the fixed asset does not affect the P&L, but the depreciaton booked at the end of the year does. When you purchase a computer, you are exchanging one asset (cash) for another (computer), or you are creating a liability (credit charge) for the asset.

Good books might be the For Dummies or For Idiots series of books (though I think the name is demeaning, they are good introductions). Or find a store that sells introductory accounting texts for community colleges. Sometimes the college bookstores sell used books at a reduced price.

Stephanie Serba, ICIA Partner, Account> Hello,

Many business owners take advantage of a special election called Section

179. You may use this election to deduct 100% of the cost of your depreciable asset in the year that you buy it. The election must be made in the first year that you use the asset in your business.

The maximum cost that you can elect to deduct in 2004 (for example) is $102,000, whether you are claiming this deduction for one asset or several assets.

Assuming he is in the USA of course.