Salvage Value

Filed Under »
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Salvage Value'

The estimated value that an asset will realize upon its sale at the end of its useful life. The value is used in accounting to determine depreciation amounts and in the tax system to determine deductions. The value can be a best guess of the end value or can be determined by a regulatory body such as the IRS.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Salvage Value'

The salvage value is used in conjunction with the purchase price and accounting method to determine the amount by which an asset depreciates each period. For example, with a straight-line basis, an asset that cost $5,000 and has a salvage value of $1,000 and a useful life of five years would be depreciated at $800 ($5,000-$1,000/5 years) each year.

Within the tax system, when a person donates a car he or she receives a tax deduction. The value of this deduction depends on the salvage value of the car. This salvage value is determined to be the current fair market value that could be obtained had the car been sold on that day rather than donated.

Sign Up For Term of the Day!

Try Our Stock Simulator!

Test your trading skills!

Related Definitions

  1. Accounting

    The systematic ...
  2. Amortization

    1. The paying ...
  3. Depreciation

    1. A method of ...
  4. Generally Accepted Accounting ...

    The common set ...
  5. Straight Line Basis

    A method of ...
  6. Internal Revenue Service - IRS

    A United States ...
  7. Accumulated Depreciation

    The cumulative ...
  8. Residual Value

    How much a fixed ...
  9. Unit of Production Method

    A depreciation ...
  10. Section 1250

    A section of the ...

Articles Of Interest

  1. New Wheels: Lease Or Buy?

    These two major ways to obtain a car have very different advantages and drawbacks. Find out which is best for you.
  2. An Introduction To Depreciation

    Companies make choices and assumptions in calculating depreciation, and you need to know how these affect the bottom line.
  3. Depreciation: Straight-Line Vs. Double-Declining Methods

    Appreciate the different methods used to describe how book value is "used up".
  4. Which is a better measure for capital budgeting, IRR or NPV?

  5. What is the difference between amortization and depreciation?

  6. The Impact Of Combining The U.S. GAAP And IFRS

    The convergence of accounting standards is changing the attitudes of CPAs and CFOs toward harmonization of international accounting.
  7. Analyze Cash Flow The Easy Way

    Find out how to analyze the way a company spends its money to determine whether there will be any money left for investors.
  8. Digging Into Book Value

    This calculation will serve up your portion of the shareholder pie.
  9. CPA, CFA Or CFP® - Pick Your Abbreviation Carefully

    A couple of letters can mean a big difference. Find out which designation you need and how to get it.
  10. Using Enterprise Value To Compare Companies

    Learn how enterprise value can help investors compare companies with different capital structures.

comments powered by Disqus
Recommended
Loading, please wait...
Trading Center