Amortization: Meaning, Examples and How to Calculate

Amortization is an accounting method that gradually reduces a loan balance or intangible asset's book value over a fixed period through scheduled payments.
Amortization
4 min
05-September-2025

Understanding amortization is like learning how to spread a big payment into small, manageable bites. Whether it’s for a loan or an intangible asset like a patent, amortization helps you break down costs systematically. For borrowers, it means predictable EMIs; for businesses, it ensures accurate expense reporting. Let’s explore what amortization is, how it works, and why it matters for your financial planning.

How to calculate loan amortization

Loan amortization tells you how much of your EMI goes toward interest and how much reduces the loan principal. The formula is:

M = P × [r (1 + r)ⁿ] / [(1 + r)ⁿ – 1]

Where:

  • M = Monthly EMI

  • P = Loan amount

  • r = Monthly interest rate (annual rate ÷ 12)

  • n = Number of months in the tenure

For example, on a home loan of Rs. 10,00,000 at 6% annual interest for 20 years, the EMI can be calculated using this formula. The result shows how your repayment schedule is structured into interest and principal components.

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Importance of amortization

Amortization is more than just accounting—it is a financial planning tool.

  • Predictable repayment structure: Helps borrowers plan monthly budgets with clarity.

  • Interest expense management: Shows how extra payments toward principal can cut interest costs.

  • Accurate reporting: Businesses expense intangible assets over time, aligning costs with revenue.

  • Tax benefits: Intangible asset amortization is often tax-deductible.

  • Asset valuation: Reflects the true worth of intangible assets like patents or trademarks.

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Examples of amortization

To illustrate how amortization works, consider the following examples:

  • Home loan: An individual takes a home loan of Rs. 50,00,000 at an annual interest rate of 7% for 15 years. Using the amortization formula, the monthly payment can be calculated, and an amortization schedule can be created to show the breakdown of each payment into principal and interest components over the loan term.

  • Car loan: A borrower secures a car loan of Rs. 8,00,000 at an annual interest rate of 9% for 5 years. The monthly installment and the amortization schedule will detail how the loan balance decreases over time, with each payment contributing towards both principal repayment and interest expense.

  • Business loan: A company obtains a business loan of Rs. 20,00,000 at an annual interest rate of 10% for 10 years. The amortization schedule will help the company plan its cash flows by knowing the exact amount payable each month towards principal and interest.

  • Patent amortization: A company acquires a patent for Rs. 5,00,000 with a useful life of 10 years. The company will amortize the patent by expensing Rs. 50,000 annually over the 10-year period, reflecting the consumption of the patent's economic benefits.

  • Trademark amortization: A business purchases a trademark for Rs. 2,00,000, expected to have a useful life of 8 years. The annual amortization expense would be Rs. 25,000, systematically reducing the asset's book value over its useful life.

  • Software development costs: A company capitalizes software development costs amounting to Rs. 10,00,000, with an estimated useful life of 5 years. The annual amortization expense would be Rs. 2,00,000, aligning the expense recognition with the period over which the software generates revenue.

  • Loan amortization with extra payments: If a borrower makes additional payments towards the principal on a loan, the amortization schedule can be adjusted to reflect the reduced principal balance, leading to interest savings and a shorter loan term.

  • Zero-coupon bond amortization: An investor purchases a zero-coupon bond for Rs. 15,000, which will mature at Rs. 20,000 in 5 years. The annual amortization of the discount (Rs. 5,000) would be Rs. 1,000, representing the annual accretion of interest income.

These examples demonstrate the application of amortization in various financial scenarios, highlighting its role in systematically allocating costs and understanding payment structures.

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Weighing opportunity cost with amortization

Amortization also reveals opportunity costs—what you could save if you repay early or invest differently. By comparing repayment schedules with potential investments like FDs, you can balance debt and growth.

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Conclusion

Amortization is a vital financial tool that simplifies debt repayments and improves financial reporting for businesses. It gives clarity on how costs are spread over time, helps track progress, and provides opportunities to save on interest through early repayments.

For businesses, it ensures compliance and accurate asset valuation. For individuals, it makes debt management easier. But while amortization structures payments, you still need reliable investments for wealth creation. That’s where Bajaj Finance Fixed Deposits come in—secure, high-yield, and predictable, they complement your long-term financial strategy perfectly. Book FD.

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Frequently asked questions

What do you mean by amortization?
Amortization is the process of gradually paying off a loan or spreading the cost of an asset over time. For loans, it involves fixed payments covering both principal and interest. For assets, it helps allocate costs over their useful life, ensuring accurate financial reporting and tax benefits.

How to calculate amortization?
Amortization is calculated using a fixed formula that considers the loan amount, interest rate, and tenure. The monthly payment is determined using:

M = P × [r (1 + r)ⁿ] / [(1 + r)ⁿ - 1], where P is principal, r is monthly interest rate, and n is total payments.

Is it better to prepay a loan or invest in an FD?

It depends on your loan interest rate versus FD returns. If your loan rate is higher, prepayment helps. But if you want guaranteed, compounding growth, Bajaj Finance FD (up to 7.30% p.a.) is a solid option. Check to check latest FD rates and start investing.

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As regards deposit taking activity of Bajaj Finance Ltd (BFL), the viewers may refer to the advertisement in the Indian Express (Mumbai Edition) and Loksatta (Pune Edition) furnished in the application form for soliciting public deposits or referhttps://www.bajajfinserv.in/fixed-deposit-archivesThe company is having a valid Certificate of Registration dated March 5, 1998 issued by the Reserve Bank of India under section 45 IA of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. However, the RBI does not accept any responsibility or guarantee about the present position as to the financial soundness of the company or for the correctness of any of the statements or representations made or opinions expressed by the company and for repayment of deposits/discharge of the liabilities by the company.

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