Learning Center
We keep you up to date on the latest tax changes and news in the industry.

Place It In Service If You Want To Deduct It

Article Highlights:

  • Sec 179 Expensing 
  • Tax Planning Tool 
  • Placed-in-Service Requirement 
Section 179 is a provision of tax law that allows owners of small businesses to expense rather than depreciate equipment purchases made during the year. It is also a popular tax-planning tool allowing business owners to reduce their income for the year by making last-minute year-end purchases. For 2017 up $510,000 ($255,000 for married taxpayers filing separate) of qualifying expenses can be written off. Qualifying property includes machinery, tools, computer equipment, certain leasehold improvements, etc.

However, there is an often-overlooked requirement of Sec 179: and that is not only must the purchase be made before year-end, the purchased item must be placed-in-service placed in service before year-end in order to expense it in the year purchased.



Generally, for Sec. 179 expensing purposes, property is first placed in service when it is placed in a condition or state of readiness and available for it’s a specifically assigned function. For example, a new printer is purchased on December 29, 2017 but is not taken out of the box and connected to the computer system until January 3, 2018. Under these circumstances the printer is deductible in 2018 and not 2017.

Therefore, if you are making year-end purchases to increase your 2017 business expense deductions, be sure the property you purchase is placed in service before year’s end. Please call this office with questions.



Share this article...

Want tax & business tips and insights?

Sign up for our newsletter.

I confirm this is a service inquiry and not an advertising message or solicitation. By clicking “Submit”, I acknowledge and agree to the creation of an account and to the and .

Social Media

Location

205 Main St.
Hackettstown, NJ 07840

Disclaimer:

The information presented in our website is intended for general use to inform our clients, colleagues and friends about our firm and the services we offer. We have made every effort to provide accurate information, however it is important to recognize that individual and business circumstances are never alike. It is not intended nor should it be used as a substitute for tax, audit, investment, consulting, legal or other professional advice. You should seek advice directly from a Jericho Tax Service professional before making any decision or taking any action on tax, financial and consulting related matters and issues.


The information provided at this site is subject to change without notice. All information in this site is provided 'as is.' In addition, this website may contain hyperlinks to websites and servers maintained by third parties. We do not control, evaluate, endorse or guarantee content found in third party sites. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the actions, products, services and content of these sites or the parties that operate them. Your use of such sites is entirely at your own risk.

Jericho Tax Service We love to chat!
Please feel free to use our Ai chat assistant or use the button to contact us.
Please fill out the form and our team will get back to you shortly The form was sent successfully