IRS Increases “Expensing” Amount To $2,500

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In general, a business must capitalize property for purposes of depreciation. For smaller purchases, the IRS allows expensing under its Tangible Property Regulations, since it’s inconvenient to maintain depreciation records on small amounts. The IRS increased the de minimis expensing amount to $2,500 from $500. Although the IRS mentions this rule change is effective for 2016, IRS Notice 2015-82 & News Release IR 2015-133 point out it’s Ok to use for open tax years. That means it’s an excellent year-end tax strategy for 2015.

For example, if a business trader purchases a new workstation in December 2015 for $7,500, try to break down the purchase into separate items with each invoice being under $2,500. For example, purchase the computer separate from the monitors and other equipment. With all items on separate invoices under $2,500, the entire $7,500 can be a 2015 business expense without any capitalization for fixed assets and related depreciation. That leads to faster expensing, tax benefits and less compliance work.

“There is no specific requirement that it must be on separate invoices,” said Darren Neuschwander, CPA. “It can all be on one invoice, but it may draw more IRS attention and require more time to breakout. Separate invoices is good practical guidance to avoid this issue. Under the change, the new $2,500 threshold applies to any such item substantiated by an invoice.”

Learn more in our Dec. 3, 2015 Webinar recording: Year-End Tax Planning For Traders. Scroll to 42:07 to 48:35 in “Trader Tax Status.” It starts with “Great news about…“Expensing.”