• Accelerated depreciation is any depreciation method that allows you to recognize higher depreciation costs in previous years.

  • The main methods of accelerated depreciation are the double declining balance method and the sum of annual digits (SYD) method.
  • Accelerated depreciation differs from straight-line depreciation, where depreciation costs are spread evenly over the life of an asset.
  • Companies can use accelerated depreciation for tax purposes as these methods result in a deferral of tax liability as income in earlier periods is lower.