KPM

Bartering Without Cash Transactions Spouse Travel Expenses Tax Efficiency Starting A Business As A Sole Proprietor Employee Retention Tax Credit Emergency Savings Accounts QSBC Advantage Green Tax Reform Employees Receive Tips Selling Commercial Or Investment Real Estate Standard Business Mileage Rate EV Reporting Requirements Section 174 Tax Calendar Tax Breaks Company Vehicle Benefits Tax Strategies for Financial Success 2023 Tax Bill 2024 Inflation-Adjusted Tax Parameters For Small Businesses Cost Segregation Study Business Entity Per Diem Business Travel Rates Social Security Wage Base Tax Depreciation Rules Work Business Expense Deductions Deadline TAx Tax issues Depreciating Business Assets Loan Guarantees LLC Tax-Saving S corporation Handling Expenses On Your Tax Return

The TCJA Temporarily Expands Bonus Depreciation

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enhances some tax breaks for businesses while reducing or eliminating others. One break it enhances (temporarily) is bonus depreciation. While most TCJA provisions go into effect for the 2018 tax year, you might be able to benefit from the bonus depreciation enhancements when you file your 2017 tax return.

Pre-TCJA bonus depreciation

Under pre-TCJA law, for qualified new assets your business placed in service in 2017, you can claim a 50 percent first-year bonus depreciation deduction. Used assets do not qualify. This tax break is available for the cost of new computer systems, purchased software, vehicles, machinery, equipment, office furniture, etc.

In addition, 50 percent bonus depreciation can be claimed for qualified improvement property, which means any qualified improvement to the interior portion of a non-residential building if the improvement is placed in service after the date the building is placed in service. But qualified improvement costs do not include expenditures for the enlargement of a building, an elevator or escalator, or the internal structural framework of a building.

TCJA expansion

The TCJA significantly expands bonus depreciation: for qualified property placed in service between September 28, 2017, and December 31, 2022 (or by December 31, 2023, for certain property with longer production periods), the first-year bonus depreciation percentage increases to 100 percent. In addition, the 100 percent deduction is allowed for not just new but also used qualifying property.

The new law also allows 100 percent bonus depreciation for qualified film, television, and live theatrical productions placed in service on or after September 28, 2017. Productions are considered placed in service at the time of the initial release, broadcast, or live commercial performance.

Beginning in 2023, bonus depreciation is scheduled to be reduced 20 percentage points each year. So, for example, it would be 80% for property placed in service in 2023, 60% in 2024, etc., until it would be fully eliminated in 2027.

For certain property with longer production periods, the reductions are delayed by one year. For example, 80 percent bonus depreciation would apply to long-production-period property placed in service in 2024.

Bonus depreciation is only one of the business tax breaks that have changed under the TCJA. Contact us for more information on this and other changes that will impact your business.

Related Articles

Talk with the pros

Our CPAs and advisors are a great resource if you’re ready to learn even more.