Question

Why do we subtract depreciation in the calculation of EBIAT if we are going to add it back as the next step of the Free Cash Flow formula?

Answer 1

Answer: Depreciation is tax deductible

Explanation:

Depreciation on assets is recognized by tax authorities as an expense that a business actually incurs so when the income statement is calculated, depreciation needs to be removed as the expense that it is so that taxes can be calculated on the profit.

Depreciation however, does not take actual cash from the company i.e the company does not actually pay anyone cash for depreciation like most other expenses. It needs therefore to be added back to the Free Cash Flow because the FCF deals with how much actual cash the company has which is something that Depreciation being a non-cash expense did not reduce.