Section 179 changes provide added deductions for businesses

Section 179 and bonus depreciation deductions have long provided a tax windfall to businesses, enabling business owners to claim immediate deductions for qualified assets instead of taking depreciation deductions over time.

Now there’s good news for businesses: Section 179 was increased and expanded by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and the deduction isn’t the only avenue for immediate tax write-offs for qualified assets. Under the 100% bonus depreciation tax break provided by the TCJA, the entire cost of eligible assets placed in service in 2019 can be written off this year.

Section 179 basics

The Section 179 deduction applies to tangible personal property such as machinery and equipment purchased for use in a trade or business, and, if the taxpayer elects, qualified real property. It’s generally available on a tax-year basis and is subject to a dollar limit.

The annual deduction limit is $1.02 million for tax years beginning in 2019, subject to a phaseout rule. Under the rule, the deduction is phased out if more than a specified amount of qualifying property is placed in service during the tax year. The amount is $2.55 million for tax years beginning in 2019, although different rules apply to heavy SUVs.

There’s also a taxable income limit. If a business’s taxable income is less than the dollar limit for that year, the amount for which you can make the election is limited to that taxable income. However, any amount you can’t immediately deduct is carried forward and can be deducted in later years (to the extent permitted by the applicable dollar limit, the phaseout rule, and the taxable income limit).

In addition to significantly increasing the Section 179 deduction, the TCJA also expanded the definition of qualifying assets to include depreciable tangible personal property used mainly in the furnishing of lodging, such as furniture and appliances.

The TCJA also expanded the definition of qualified real property to include qualified improvement property and some improvements to nonresidential real property, such as roofs; heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment; fire protection and alarm systems; and security systems.

Bonus depreciation basics

With bonus depreciation, businesses can deduct 100% of the cost of certain assets in the first year, rather than capitalize them on their balance sheets and gradually depreciate them. Before the TCJA, the bonus depreciation rules only allowed a business to deduct 50% of the cost of qualified new property.

This break applies to qualifying assets placed in service between Sept. 28, 2017, and Dec. 31, 2022 (or by Dec. 31, 2023, for certain assets with longer production periods and for aircraft). After that, the bonus depreciation percentage is reduced by 20% per year until it’s fully phased out after 2026 (or after 2027 for certain assets described above).

Bonus depreciation is now allowed for both new and used qualifying assets, which include most categories of tangible depreciable assets other than real estate.

Maximize eligible purchases

These favorable depreciation deductions will deliver tax-saving benefits to many businesses on their 2019 returns, but qualifying assets have to be placed in service by December 31. Contact us at KraftCPAs if you have questions, or you want more information about how your business can get the most out of these and other deductions.

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