Friday, December 4, 2015

IRS Asset Expense Change


Not all informational email blasts are the same. When I run across a particularly interesting information, I like to pass along. This is from the Lutz Newsletter. - Jerry Slusky, Attorney


Taxpayers without SEC filings or audited financials now have the ability to potentially expense asset purchases below $2,500 per item. This threshold is increased from $500 per item by IRS Notice 2015-82, issued just last week. The final tangible property regulations issued in 2013 and applied to taxpayers for the 2014 tax year provided for a de minimis cost threshold under which purchases that might previously have been required to be capitalized could be expensed as materials and supplies. Many small businesses thought the $500 threshold was too low and created additional burdensome record-keeping requirements. As a result of much industry pressure, the IRS appears to have relented and increased this threshold. The ability to use this de minimis election does require that the business has adopted a capitalization policy. We would advise that such policies be updated to consider the new dollar threshold.

Taxpayers with audited financials continue to have a $5,000 per item capitalization threshold.