Capitalising vs expensing (beginner question)

Hi,

I wonder how these scenarios will show in the statements.

Assumptions: €100 machine purchase, Depreciation of 10 years (straight line), no salvage value, corporate tax rate of 20%. Machine purchased in the beginning of the year and no dividends are paid out to equity holders.

Capitalising scenario:

PnL

Depreciation = 10€, so net income decreases by 10€ * (1-0,2) = -8€.

Cash Flows

Depreciation is added back in in CFO so we have 2€ from CFO. CapEx decreases CFI with 100€

Balance Sheet

PP&E is now 90€ (after depreciation the first year) Cash is -98

Asset = -8€ Retained earnings = -8€

Balanced!

Now the question: how would this scenario look like if we would expense? Would we just have 100€ in PP&E and -100€ cash on the balance sheet? It feels wrong to skip the whole flow through the PnL and cash flow statements..

2 Comments
 
Most Helpful

If you expensed the machine, the entire EU100 impact would fall on the income statement, instead of EU10 of depreciation:

P&L Machine expense: -EU100 Net income: -EU100 * (1-0.2) = -EU80

CFS CFO = -EU80 Net cash flow = -EU80

B/S Cash = -EU80 Assets = -EU80

Retained earnings = -EU80

Because you expensed the machine, it doesn't show up as a capital asset (i.e. PP&E) on the balance sheet anymore, and therefore does not incur depreciation. It should be treated like any other cash expense.

============================================================= Pursue Excellence, and Success will chase you, pants down.
 

Modi qui quisquam ipsum incidunt officiis asperiores exercitationem. Omnis consequatur quasi ducimus distinctio dolor. Laborum blanditiis et itaque et.

Voluptatum consequatur maiores ex voluptatibus non quo. Dolores molestias odit ab laborum.

Career Advancement Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.4%
  • Guggenheim Partners 02 97.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 97.4%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.5%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 99.0%
  • Evercore 01 98.4%
  • Banco Santander 02 97.9%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.4%

Professional Growth Opportunities

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.5%
  • Moelis & Company 01 99.0%
  • Morgan Stanley 05 98.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.9%
  • JPMorgan No 97.4%

Total Avg Compensation

October 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (16) $429
  • Associates (57) $264
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (28) $184
  • Intern/Summer Associate (16) $161
  • 1st Year Analyst (84) $151
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (76) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
7
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
8
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
9
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
10
numi's picture
numi
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”