depletion

depletion

The periodic cost assigned for a reduction in the quantity and indicated value of a natural resource such as a mineral deposit or timber. Thus, depletion indicates an activity such as harvesting or mining a natural resource. See also cost depletion, depreciation, percentage depletion.

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depletion

An accounting and tax term referring to deductions made to account for land becoming less valuable because of the removal of natural resources, including timber and geothermal deposits of hot water or hot rocks.

Examples of items eligible for the IRS depletion allowance under 26 U.S.C.§613(b) are

Borax
Marble
Carbon dioxide
Mollusk shells
Clay
Oil and gas
Coal
Potash
Copper
Sand
Gold
Silver
Granite
Shale
Gravel
Slate
Iron
Stone
Iron ore
Sulfur
Limestone
Timber

For more information,see Publication 535,“Business Expenses,”Chapter 10,“Depletion,”available at the IRS Web site,www.irs.gov.

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Depletion

The process by which the cost or other basis of a natural resource (for example, an oil and gas interest) is recovered upon extraction and sale of the resource. The two ways to determine the depletion allowance are the cost and percentage methods, both of which are defined elsewhere in this glossary.