Depletion (accounting)

Depletion is an accounting concept used most often in mining, timber, petroleum, or other similar industries. The depletion deduction allows an owner or operator to account for the reduction of a product's reserves. Depletion is similar to depreciation in that, it is a cost recovery system for accounting and tax reporting. For tax purposes, there are two types of depletion; cost depletion and percentage depletion. For mineral property, you generally must use the method that gives you the larger deduction. For standing timber, you must use cost depletion.