The declining-balance method of depreciation is called an accelerated depreciation method because it depreciates an asset in a shorter period of time than the asset's useful life.

Declining-Balance Method

Depreciation method that applies a constant rate to the declining book value of the asset and produces a decreasing annual depreciation expense over the useful life of the asset.

Accelerated Depreciation

A method of depreciation that allows larger depreciation expenses in the early years of an asset's life and smaller expenses in the later years.

Useful Life

The estimated period over which a fixed asset is expected to be usable by a company, influencing depreciation calculations.