Natalie is thinking of buying a van that will be used only for business. She estimates that she can buy the van for $28,400. Natalie would spend an additional $3,000 to have the van painted. As well, she wants the back seat of the van removed so that she will have lots of room to transport her juicer inventory and smoothies and supplies. The cost of taking out the back seat and installing shelving units is estimated at $1,600. She expects the van to last about five years and to be driven for 200,000 km. The annual cost of vehicle insurance will be $1,440. Natalie estimates that, at the end of the five-year useful life, the van will sell for $5,000. Assume that she will buy the van on December 15, 2024, and it will be ready for use on January 2, 2025. 

Natalie is concerned about the impact of the van’s cost and related depreciation on Santé Smoothies’ income statement and balance sheet. 

Instructions 

a. Determine the cost of the van. 

b. Prepare depreciation schedules for the life of the van under the following depreciation methods: 

1. Straight-line. 

2. Diminishing-balance at double the straight-line rate. 

3. It is estimated that the van will be driven as follows: 30,000 km in 2025, 37,500 km in 2026, 40,000 km in 2027, 47,500 km in 2028, 35,000 km in 2029, and 10,000 km in 2030. 

Recall that Santé Smoothies has a May 31 year end. 

c. Which method of depreciation would result in the highest profit for the year ended May 31, 2026? Over the life of the asset? 

d. Which method would result in the highest carrying amount for the van as at May 31, 2026? Over the life of the asset? 

e. Which method of depreciation would you recommend that Natalie use? Why?