Question

On December 31, 2019, Hamilton Inc. sold a used industrial crane for $600,000 cash. The original cost of the crane was $5.0 million and its accumulated depreciation equaled $4.2 million on December 31, 2019. What is the gain or loss from the December 31, 2019 equipment sale?

Answer 1

Answer:

Loss of $200,000

Explanation:

Cost of Crane:                            $5,000,000

Accumulated Depreciation:         4,200,000

Difference                                         800,000

Sale of Crane                                    600,000

LOSS                                                  200,000

This would be a loss because Hamilton did not receive enough cash on the sale of the crane to cover its initial cost for the crane. Since we do not have a salvage value listed, this answer is based on the assumption that the salvage value of the crane is $800,000. (Gain or loss is calculated by determining if the cash received on the sale of the item - in this case, the crane - is more (gain), less (loss), or equal (equal) to the salvage value. Based on the assumption that the salvage value is the remaining $800,000, this would mean a loss to Hamilton since they only received $600,000 for the sale of the crane).