Jerome Boland works for Sea Biscuit Co. He and Farah Smith, his manager, are preparing adjusting entries for annual financial statements. Boland computes depreciation and records it as

Smith agrees with his computation but says the credit entry should be directly to the Equipment account.
She argues that while accumulated depreciation is technically correct, “it is less hassle not to use a contra account and just credit the Equipment account directly. And besides, the balance sheet shows the same amount for total assets under either method.”
Required 

1. How should depreciation be recorded? Do you support Boland or Smith?
2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Smith’s reasons for preferring her method.
3. Indicate whether the situation Boland faces is an ethical problem. Explain.

Transcribed Image Text:

Depreciation Expense-Equipment. 123,000 Accumulated Depreciation Equipment. 123,000