Which of the following journal entries correctly records depreciation expense under straight-line depreciation?

• A. Debit Accumulated Depreciation, Credit Depreciation Expense
• B. Debit Depreciation Expense, Credit Accumulated Depreciation
• C. Debit Depreciation Expense, Credit Cash
• D. Debit Cash, Credit Accumulated Depreciation

Answer: (B)

Depreciation is a noncash expense that allocates the cost of a long‑term asset over its useful life. The correct recording uses a debit to Depreciation Expense to reflect the period’s cost and a credit to Accumulated Depreciation, a contra‑asset account that reduces the asset’s net book value on the balance sheet. Under straight‑line depreciation, the same amount is expensed each period, but the bookkeeping always ties the expense to the income statement and increases the accumulated depreciation balance on the balance sheet. Debiting Cash would be incorrect because depreciation does not involve cash, and crediting Depreciation Expense or debiting Accumulated Depreciation would misstate either the expense or the asset’s value.