Accumulated Depreciation Journal Entry is a bookkeeping entry that records the decrease in the value of an asset over time due to wear and tear, obsolescence, or other factors. When making this journal entry, the accountant must debit the Accumulated Depreciation account for the total amount of depreciation that has been recorded since the asset was acquired. This will reduce the asset’s balance sheet carrying cost and help ensure that the company pays taxes on profits based on current values, not inflated ones from when the asset was first acquired. In essence, Accumulated Depreciation helps businesses maintain accurate financial books and pay only what is owed in taxes.