Last Chance to Access the Small Business $20,000 instant Asset Write-Off
With the ability to claim an instant $20,000 deduction for business asset purchases coming to a close 30 June 2017, can you and should be take advantage.
There are a few issues to be aware of if you want to utilise the instant asset write-off that will determine if you can take advantage:
Does your business qualify?
To access the instant asset write-off, your business needs to be a trading business (the entity buying the assets needs to carry on a business in its own right). It also needs to have an aggregated turnover under $10 million. Aggregated turnover is the annual turnover of the business plus the annual turnover of any “affiliates” or “connected entities”. The aggregation rules are there to prevent businesses splitting their activities to access the concessions. Another entity is connected with you if:
You control or are controlled by that entity; or
Both you and that entity are controlled by the same third entity.
Both you and that entity are controlled by the same third entity.
If there are purchases and equipment that your business needs, that equipment has an immediate benefit to the business, and your cashflow supports the purchase, then in many cases it will make sense to go ahead and spend the money – you have until 30 June 2017 before the deduction threshold drops back to $1,000.
Assets must be ready to use
If you want to access the $20,000 immediate deduction, you have to start using the asset in the financial year you purchased it (or have it installed ready for use). This prevents business operators from stockpiling purchases and claiming tax deductions for goods they have no intention of using in the short term. So, if your business purchases an asset on 20 May 2017, it needs to be used or installed and ready to use by 30 June 2017 to qualify for the immediate deduction.
Second hand goods qualify
The instant asset write-off does not distinguish between new or second hand goods. For example, second hand machinery may qualify if it meets the other requirements.
The immediate deduction can be used more than once
Assuming all the other conditions are met, an immediate deduction should be available for each individual item costing less than $20,000. Just be careful of cashflow.
Be careful of contracts
You need to ensure that any contract you sign makes your business the owner of the asset and that the asset can be used or installed and ready to use by the business on or before 30 June. The rules require you to “acquire” the asset before 30 June so the wording of the contract will be important.
Assets for business and pleasure
Where you use an asset for mixed business and personal use, the tax deduction can only be claimed on the business percentage. If you buy an $18,000 second hand car and use it 80% for business and 20% for personal use, only $14,400 of the $18,000 is deductible.
You don’t get $20,000 back on tax as a refund
The instant asset write off is a tax deduction that reduces the amount of tax your business has to pay. It enables your business to claim a deduction for depreciating assets in the year the asset was purchased and used (or installed ready to use). For example, if your business is in a company structure the most you will ‘get back’ is 27.5% (in 2016-17).
If your business is likely to make a tax loss for the year then the bigger deduction might not provide any short-term benefit to you.