When calculating depreciation amounts, businesses may choose to use the regular straight-line method or the alternative depreciation system. Under the Alternative Depreciation System, businesses are allowed to use an accelerated depreciation method wherein taxpayers may deduct larger amounts of depreciation during the early years. This effectively results in a larger deduction for the taxable year in which it is used.

The Alternative Depreciation System does not apply to all assets, however. The assets to which ADS applies are limited and must be used for the production of business-related income. Examples of such assets include furniture, equipment, machinery, and buildings.

To calculate depreciation under the alternative depreciation system, taxpayers must use the mid-month convention and the half-year and double-declining-balance methods. Under this system, depreciation expenses are taken into account only after all other adjustments to the Annual Declining Balance (ADB) have been made.

The depreciation deductions under the ADS system may be taken over a specified period of time which may range from three to fifty years, depending on the type of asset being depreciated. For example, structures and equipment typically have deprecation periods of 39 and 5 years respectively.

In addition to the accelerated depreciation, businesses using the alternative depreciation system also benefit from reduced taxable income and deferred taxes. By depreciating assets over a longer period of time, businesses may decrease their taxable income for the current year and defer the tax liability to future years.

The Alternative Depreciation System may not be the most appropriate decision for everyone. Businesses should evaluate the long-term tax implications before deciding whether or not to use the system. Furthermore, businesses should be aware of the depreciation allowance discrepancies found in the alternative system. The IRS imposes a key limitation on the alternative depreciation system: Taxpayers are not allowed to deduct accumulated bonuses, tax credits, and other tax-advantaged income when calculating depreciation expenses under the Alternative Depreciation System.

Overall, the Alternative Depreciation System provides businesses with an alternative approach for calculating depreciation for certain assets. The system enables businesses to take advantage of the accelerated depreciation method, defer taxes and decrease their taxable income. Despite the benefits, businesses should consider all the implications before choosing to use the ADS system.