Fixed Asset Depreciation in Latvia 2026 — What You Need to Know
Depreciation is the allocation of an asset's cost over its useful life. In Latvia, two types must be distinguished: accounting depreciation (per company policy) and tax depreciation (per IIN Law art. 11.5 categories and rates, in force 01.01.2026).
IIN Law Tax Depreciation Categories 2026 (4 categories)
- Category a) — 5%/year: Buildings, structures, engineering works and perennial plantings. Linear equivalent: 35 years.
- Category b) — 10%/year: Technological machinery, railway rolling stock, marine/river fleet vessels, energy equipment. Linear equivalent: 10 years.
- Category c) — 35%/year: Computers, servers, printers, information systems, software, communications equipment, copiers. Linear equivalent: 3 years.
- Category d) — 20%/year: All other fixed assets (vehicles, equipment, furniture, etc.). Linear equivalent: 5 years.
Intangible assets (patents, licences, trademarks): linear method, 5 years. Land, artworks, antiques: no depreciation.
Linear vs. Degressive Method
Linear method spreads the value in equal instalments: depreciation = (cost − residual value) ÷ useful life. Simple, predictable, suitable for accounting.
Degressive method (used for tax purposes) applies a fixed percentage to the remaining book value each year. It gives higher depreciation in early years — deferring the tax burden to later periods.