The XYZ Block Company purchased a new office computer and other depreciable computer hardware for $12,000. During the third year, the computer is declared obsolete and is donated to the local community college. Using an interest rate of 10%, calculate the Present Worth of the depreciation deductions. Assume that no salvage value was initially declared and that the machine was expected to last 5 years.

Depreciation is the reduction in the value of asset due to wear and tear. Depreciation is charged only on fixed asset on a straight line or on a fixed rate per year.

Computer and other hardware of $12,000 to be depreciated over 5 years with no salvage value

Depreciation per year = ( Cost of Asset - Salvage value ) / Useful life = ($12,000 - $0) / 5 = $12,000/5 = $2,400 per year

It is assumed that the assets are donated at the end of third year and depreciation of that year is fully charged.

Depreciation for 3 years = $2,400 x 3 = $7,200

Now As all these event happened in the past and it is assumed that we are standing at the end of year 3, the present worth of the all these depreciation is actually the future value of these deduction because it was made earlier.

Present worth of depreciation is as follows

Present Worth = [$2,400 x (1+0.1)^2 ] + [$2,400 x (1+0.1)^1 ] + [$2,400 x (1+0.1)^0 ] = $2,904 + $2,640 + $2,400 = $7,944

Third deduction was made at the date when worth is being calculated.