The $20k instant asset write-off is back: Here’s what it means

New legislation reintroduces the $20k instant asset write-off threshold.

The temporary full expensing rules, which provided an immediate deduction for the full cost of assets acquired from 6 October 2020, ended on 30 June 2023. While the instant asset write-off threshold was due to drop back to $1,000 from 1 July 2023, the Government has introduced a Bill to Parliament which contains amendments to ensure that a $20,000 threshold will apply to small business entities for the 2024 income year.

The rules

For a small business entity to access the instant asset write-off threshold of $20,000 the following conditions need to be satisfied:

• The entity must carry on a business under general principles in the 2024 income year;
• It must have aggregated annual turnover of less than $10m;
  • This can be based on current year or previous year figures;
• It must choose to apply the simplified depreciation rules for the 2024 income year;
• The asset must have a cost of less than $20,000; and
• The asset must be first used, or installed ready for use, for a taxable purpose between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024.

It is important to note that if a small business entity does not choose to apply the simplified depreciation rules for the 2024 income year then it won’t have access to the instant asset write-off rules, regardless of whether the other basic conditions can be met.

The write-off threshold applies per asset, so a small business entity can potentially deduct the full cost of multiple assets across the 2024 year as long as the cost of each asset is less than $20,000.

The increased instant asset write-off threshold also means that a $20,000 threshold applies for the purpose of determining whether the full pool balance is written off in the 2024 income year. Just remember that when you are applying these rules you don’t actually look at the closing pool balance, you are looking at what the pool balance would have been if you ignored the current year depreciation deductions for the pool for the 2024 year.

The provisions that prevent small business entities from re-entering the simplified depreciation regime for five years if they opt-out will continue to be suspended until 30 June 2024 (the lock-out rules).

What assets are eligible

The instant asset write-off rules only apply to assets that fall within the scope of the depreciation provisions. Expenditure on capital improvements to buildings that fall within the scope of the capital works rules do not qualify.

Assets with a cost of $20,000 or more (which cannot be immediately deducted) can continue to be placed into the small business general pool and depreciated at 15% in the first income year and 30% each income year thereafter.

The messy history of depreciation deductions

A range of measures have been introduced over the years to encourage business investment. A brief summary of the rules is set out below:

*Assuming the legislation containing the amendments passes through Parliament