Whenever you spend money on your business, the expense is either deducted on your federal tax return in the year it is incurred or depreciated over time. But much more is involved than just that. And when you hear terms like capitalization and safe harbor, it can feel even more complicated. Here are details to help you better understand the process.
It seems straightforward. But, in fact, determining whether a cost must be capitalized over X years isn't as easy as it looks. And, to make accounting even more fun, the IRS has a "de minimis safe harbor election" that lets you deduct expenses that you otherwise would capitalize. De-what? The de minimis (Latin for "concerning the smallest things") safe harbor is a yearly tax return election that allows you to deduct expenses for tangible property that costs below a certain threshold. Essentially, it gives taxpayers an immediate but limited tax break on items that otherwise would take many years to depreciate. The IRS has been busy lately increasing the threshold from $500 to $2,500 for businesses that don't have an audited financial statement, something many small businesses do not have. This means that if your small business bought, for example, a computer for $2,499, you might be able to deduct the entire amount on that year's tax return, instead of over many years. For businesses that maintain an audited financial statement, the threshold continues to be $5,000. De minimis safe harbor is considered to be a good thing because taking immediate tax deductions simplifies recordkeeping and increases tax refunds. How to make "de maximis" of your de minimis
This is just an introduction to an important topic—there's a lot more to know. Give us a call today, and we'll help you take charge of your purchases. Comments are closed.
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