In early July 2015, Masterton Ltd is considering the acquisition of some machinery for $1 200 000 plus GST to be used in the manufacture of a new product. The machinery has a useful life of 10 years, during which management plans to produce 500 000 units of the new product. The residual value of the machinery is $100 000.

The following projections were made in order to select a depreciation method to be used for the machinery:

Year ended 30 June		Units of output		Repairs and maintenance		Profit before depreciation
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020		50 000 45 000 55 000 58 000 60 000		$70 000 60 000 90 000 95 000 100 000		$350 000 340 000 355 000 360 000 380 000

In calculating the profit before depreciation, all expenses have been deducted, including the repairs and maintenance expense.

Required

A. As the accountant for Masterton Ltd, prepare separate depreciation schedules for the machinery for the 5-year period, using the following depreciation methods: (a) straight-line, (b) diminishing balance, (c) sum-of-years’-digits, and (d) units-of-production. Use the following headings for each schedule: ‘Year ending 30 June’, ‘Annual depreciation expense’, ‘Accumulated depreciation’, ‘Carrying amount at end of year’.

B. Prepare a report for management, stating the advantages and disadvantages of each depreciation method. Include in the report your recommendations on the choice of method consistent with the requirements of IAS 16/AASB 116. Support your recommendations with schedules showing the total annual cost of operating the machinery, and the profit after depreciation.

C. Write an addendum to your report, making further recommendations based on the following additional information supplied to you by management. As an alternative to acquiring the machinery, management is considering leasing the machinery for an annual rental charge of $250000; all repairs and maintenance costs would be paid by the lessor. Secondly, management wishes to show the most favourable financial results in anticipation of acquiring a long-term bank loan.