Deductions

Want to lower the true cost of ownership on your business equipment? Here's how:

Business Equipment

Business owners who acquire equipment for their business: machinery, computers, and other tangible goods, usually prefer to deduct the cost in a single tax year, rather than a little at a time over a number of years. This deduction is known by its section in the tax code, a Section 179 deduction.

Under Section 179, businesses that spend less than $800,000 a year on qualified equipment, can write off up to $250,000 in 2008. The rules are designed for small companies, so the $250,000 deduction phases out when a business purchases more than $800,000 in one year. (Companies cannot write off more than their taxable income).

Benefits of a Non-Tax/Capital Lease

The benefit of a Non-Tax/Capital Lease is that it can take advantage of Section 179: expense up to $250,000 if the equipment is put in use in 2008. In addition, you may depreciate any excess on the depreciation schedule for that asset.

Examples of Non-Tax/Capital Leases include a $1.00 Buyout Lease, an Equipment Finance Agreement (EFA), and a 10% Purchase Upon Termination (PUT) Lease. Example Calculation: Assume you finance $300,000 worth of business equipment, put it in use in 2008, and take advantage of Section 179. Your tax savings could be significant!