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Section 179 & Bonus Depreciation – Saving w/ Business Tax Deductions

Section 179

Over the years many companies have saved on their taxes by taking advantage of Section 179 and Section 168(k) of the IRS Tax Code. Herein we’ve provided some information about the opportunity for tax savings, the changes, and things to consider in order to take advantage of the tax benefits.

What is Section 179?
Section 179 allows eligible businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment in the year it was put into service. This creates a larger initial expense deduction than using a standard depreciation method, thus reducing the tax burden for the company.


The eligible equipment can be financed or paid for with cash. In order to take advantage of the accelerated depreciation the tax code requires that the equipment be put into service before December 31 of the applicable tax year. Due to current shortages of components and extended lead times on some equipment, early planning during the fall of 2021 could be essential to receiving the equipment in time to place it into service by the deadline.


While there are some limitations on amounts and types of equipment, the allowances are significant enough for many small and medium-sized companies to see substantial savings. These provisions of the Tax Code have existed for a long time, but the 2018 tax changes were noteworthy. These include being able to take the deduction for the purchase of used equipment (as long as the equipment is “new to you”) as well as an increase in the limitation amounts. For tax year 2021, the IRS has increased the maximum deduction and the maximum amount of equipment that can be purchased by approximately 1%.



What are the Section 179 Limits?

  • Maximum amount that can be deducted is $1,050,000
  • Maximum amount of equipment that can be purchased (and take the full deduction) is $2,620,000
  • Equipment must be placed into service no later than December 31, 2021
  • If total equipment purchases exceed $2,620,000 the Section 179 deduction decreases dollar for dollar, reaching zero once $3,670,000 of equipment is purchased &/or financed.

What is Bonus Depreciation?
Section 168(k) allows for bonus depreciation (100% expensing) on eligible equipment and property, thus allowing accelerated depreciation for a reduced tax burden, similar to Section 179. A company can take both Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation allowances, but Section 179 must be applied first, and any amount over the $1,050,000 limit to Section 179 may then be taken in bonus depreciation.

One thing to note, the company must be profitable in order to take the Section 179 deduction, it cannot be applied to create a net loss for the business. However, there is currently no business income limitation for bonus depreciation, so a business could take a net loss by taking advantage of bonus depreciation.
To record bonus depreciation, businesses should use IRS Form 4562.



What is Considered Eligible Equipment?
Eligible equipment includes heavy equipment and machinery, office and computer equipment, off-the-shelf software, some vehicles for business use, and more (check with your legal or tax advisor to determine if your purchases qualify). In some cases, modifications to business property and acquisition of sanitizing equipment for health and well-being due to COVID-19 may be eligible for the Section 179 deduction.

In short, if the equipment, qualifies as a depreciable asset under Section 168, and is acquired for use in the operation of the business, it should be allowed. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expanded the definition of “qualified real property” to include improvements (Qualified Improvement Property – QIP) to nonresidential real estate such as roofs; HVAC systems; fire protection, alarm and security systems. The CARES Act of 2020 further modified the rules for the treatment of QIP, classifying it as 15-year property rather than 39-year property, and no longer subjecting it to the $2 million a year limit for Bonus Depreciation.

Additionally, it’s good to note that receipt of any pandemic-related assistance, i.e. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and/or Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL), does NOT affect a business’s ability to use the Section 179 deduction and bonus depreciation.


What are the Concerns about Using Section 179 and Bonus Depreciation?
Before you take Section 179 and/or bonus depreciation deductions, consult with your tax or legal advisor. While it’s true that the deductions effectively reduce your tax burden for the year in which the equipment was purchased, you may also give up future years’ depreciation, thereby impacting subsequent years’ tax burdens as well.

Additionally, accelerated depreciation of an asset results in a lower book value for that asset, which will affect the debt-to-worth ratio of your balance sheet (if you rely on tax returns or tax values in preparing your financial statements). While this may not have significant impact on your business, it could affect your ability to borrow money for future purchases. And if you decide to sell the asset, specifically at a price higher than the current book value, you could pay taxes on the gains from that sale.

Evaluating the short and long-term effects of your purchase decisions and tax strategies is important to running your business. Your tax advisor can help you evaluate the effects of these tax strategies, so you can make the most informed decisions.