Is depreciation an operating expense?

Asked by: Carmela Hill  |  Last update: July 17, 2026
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Yes, depreciation is generally considered an operating expense when the asset supports core business activities, appearing on the income statement under SG&A or within Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), but it's a non-cash expense, meaning cash outflow happened earlier (when the asset was bought). Its classification depends on the asset's use: production equipment depreciation goes to COGS, while office equipment depreciation goes to Selling, General & Administrative (SG&A) expenses.

Does depreciation are operating expenses?

Depreciation is an operating expense if the asset being depreciated is used in an organization's main operating activities. Depreciation is a non-operating expense if the asset being depreciated is used in a peripheral or incidental activity of an organization.

Is depreciation an operating expense or cogs?

In most cases, yes—depreciation is considered an operating expense because it relates to assets used in a company's core operations.

What kind of expense is depreciation?

Notably, depreciation is often considered a “non-cash expense” because it doesn't reflect actual cash flows in the years following the initial purchase. However, it is treated as an expense in accounting records for tax-related purposes.

Can you claim depreciation as an expense?

Tax rules governing depreciation fall under the umbrella of capital allowances. In essence, depreciation in itself is not tax deductible. But, capital allowances are tax deductions that businesses can claim for the effective depreciation of certain assets.

Is Depreciation An Operating Expense? - Tax and Accounting Coach

15 related questions found

Is depreciation an operating expense under GAAP?

Each Service should follow GAAP and have depreciation expense match the corresponding revenue and present it accordingly on the income statement. Depreciation expense is primarily associated with operating activities; therefore, we recommend moving depreciation to the operating expense section of the income statement.

What's not included in operating expenses?

Non-operating expenses like losses, inventory write-downs, restructuring costs, etc., are calculated and listed separately from operating and capital expenses.

What are the three categories of operating expenses?

Three main categories of OpEx are selling, general, and administrative expenses, each with distinct business purposes. Fixed vs. variable expenses influence your budgeting, forecasting, and resilience during market changes.

What is excluded from operating expenses?

Costs excluded from operating expenses include mortgage payments, capital expenses, and depreciation expenses. Other costs to consider when investing in a rental property include appraisal and inspection fees, business and license fees, and closing costs.

Is depreciation considered an operating activity?

Yes, depreciation is an operating expense when you use the asset you're depreciating for your core business operations according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Your core business is how you regularly generate revenue as opposed to other activities that create revenue on the side or sporadically.

How do you record depreciation in accounting?

How to Record Depreciation Expense. Depreciation is recorded by debiting Depreciation Expense and crediting Accumulated Depreciation.

Is depreciation under operating cost?

Depreciation is typically recorded under operating expenses in the income statement, often included in Selling, General, and Administrative (SG&A) expenses or as a separate line item.

Is depreciation an operating or administrative expense?

Depreciation is listed with operating expenses if the cost is associated with fixed assets used for selling, general and administrative purposes. Examples include vehicles for salespeople or an office computer and phone system.

Why is depreciation added in operating activities?

Since depreciation decreases operating income, but does not result in a cash outflow, it is added back to operating income to reconcile net cash provided from operating activities.

Does depreciation go into operating profit?

Operating profit is calculated by taking revenue and then subtracting the cost of goods sold, operating expenses, depreciation, and amortization.

What are the five operating expenses?

Ideally, operating expenses include – inventory cost, rent, marketing, insurance, payroll, and research and development funds, among others. These expenses are mandatory for ensuring the continuance and profitability of a firm's operations.

What is not an example of operating expenses?

Non-operating expenses are costs your business incurs that aren't directly related to your core operations, such as production, sales, or service delivery. These might include non-operating costs such as interest charges, inventory write-downs, or costs associated with restructuring your business.

What are not operating expenses?

A non-operating expense is a cost that isn't directly related to core business operations. Examples of non-operating expenses are interest payments on debt, restructuring costs, inventory write-offs and payments to settle lawsuits.

What are considered general operating expenses?

“General expenses are directly related to the operation of the business. Rent, insurance, utilities, office supplies—all of the costs associated with the day-to-day running of the business,” says Barros, adding that it's also called overhead.

What does GAAP say about depreciation?

The term “depreciation” refers to the systematic allocation of a fixed asset's cost over its useful life. It's not a matter of valuation but a means of cost allocation. GAAP requires depreciation to match the expense of using an asset with the periods in which it generates revenue.

Which kind of expense is depreciation?

Depreciation expense refers to the expenses that are charged to fixed assets based on how much the assets get consumed during the accounting period according to the accounting policy of the business.

What account does depreciation go under?

Accumulated depreciation is under fixed assets on a balance sheet. It's a credit balance deducted from the total cost of property, plant, and equipment, reflecting decreasing asset value over time for a more accurate net value.