The Instant Asset Write Off (IAWO) is once again in the spotlight as we approach the end of another financial year. For assets costing less than $20,000, small businesses have been able to take advantage of this valuable tax deduction — but this concession is expected to end on 30 June 2025. After that, the write-off threshold will significantly drop back down to just $1,000.

The current rules apply to assets purchased and used (or installed ready for use) before 30 June 2025, for businesses with an aggregated turnover of less than $50 million.

For those who haven’t previously accessed this concession, it’s crucial to understand how you can benefit from it before it disappears.

What is the instant asset write-off?

A deduction is generally available for purchases your business makes. The instant asset write off however changes the speed at which you can claim a deduction. Right now, businesses can immediately deduct the cost of assets up to $20,000 in the same financial year the asset was first used (or installed ready for use). On 1 July 2025, this $20,000 deduction limit reduces back to $1,000. When we say “immediately deductible” we mean that your business can claim a tax deduction for the asset in the same income year that the asset was purchased and used (or installed ready for use). The deduction is claimed on the business’s tax return.

If your business is registered for GST, the cost of the asset needs to be less than $20,000 exclusive of GST. If your business is not registered for GST, it is $20,000 including GST.

Assets costing $20,000 or more can be allocated to a pool and depreciated at a rate of 15% in the first year and 30% for each year thereafter.

The instant asset write off only applies to certain depreciable assets. There are some assets, like horticultural plants, capital works (building construction costs etc.), assets leased to another party on a depreciating asset lease, etc., that don’t qualify – check with our tax accountants first if you are uncertain.

Also, you need to be sure that there is a relationship between the asset purchased by the business and how the business generates income. You can’t for example just go and purchase multiple television sets if they have no relevance to your business.

How can you access the $20,000 instant asset write off

There are a few issues to be aware of if you want to utilise the instant asset write off:

Does your business qualify?

To access the instant asset write-off, your business needs to be a trading business (the entity buying the assets needs to carry on a business in its own right). It also needs to have an aggregated turnover under $10 million. Aggregated turnover is the annual turnover of the business plus the annual turnover of any “affiliates” or “connected entities”. The aggregation rules are there to prevent businesses splitting their activities to access the concessions. Another entity is connected with you if:

• You control or are controlled by that entity; or
• Both you and that entity are controlled by the same third entity.

Should you spend the money now?

If there are purchases and equipment that your business needs, that equipment has an immediate benefit to the business, and your cashflow supports the purchase, then in many cases it will make sense to go ahead and spend the money – you have until 30 June 2025 before the deduction threshold drops back to $1,000.

The $20,000 immediate deduction applies as many times as you like so you can use it for multiple individual purchases. But, your business still needs to fund the purchase for a period of time until you can claim the tax deduction and then, the deduction is only a portion of the purchase price.

Assets must be ready to use

If you want to access the $20,000 immediate deduction, you have to start using the asset in the financial year you purchased it (or have it installed ready for use). This prevents business operators from stockpiling purchases and claiming tax deductions for goods they have no intention of using in the short term. So, if your business purchases an asset on 20 May 2025, it needs to be used or installed and ready to use by 30 June 2025 to qualify for the immediate deduction.

Second-hand goods qualify

The instant asset write-off does not distinguish between new or second-hand goods. For example, second-hand machinery may qualify if it meets the other requirements.

The immediate deduction can be used more than once. Assuming all the other conditions are met, an immediate deduction should be available for each individual item costing less than $20,000. Just be careful of cashflow.

Be careful of contracts

You need to ensure that any contract you sign makes your business the owner of the asset and that the asset can be used or installed and ready to use by the business on or before 30 June. The rules require you to “acquire” the asset before 30 June so the wording of the contract will be important.

Assets for business and pleasure

Where you use an asset for mixed business and personal use, the tax deduction can only be claimed on the business percentage. If you buy an $18,000 second hand car and use it 80% for business and 20% for personal use, only $14,400 of the $18,000 is deductible.

You don’t get $20,000 back on tax as a refund

The instant asset write off is a tax deduction that reduces the amount of tax your business has to pay. It enables your business to claim a deduction for depreciating assets in the year the asset was purchased and used (or installed ready to use).  If your business is likely to make a tax loss for the year then the bigger deduction might not provide any short-term benefit to you.

MGI has a number of expert tax accountants and consultants who can provide you with the most up to date tax advice to help you reduce your tax. If you have any questions speak to your MGI advisor today on 07 3002 4800.

This article originally appeared in Your Knowledge by Knowledge Shop and was updated in May 2025 to reflect the new dates and thresholds now in place.

Disclaimer

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The government has announced that the $150,000 instant asset write-off for businesses will be extended to 31 December 2020. It was previously set to finish by 30 June 2020, when the threshold was going to revert back to $1,000.

The threshold will now apply from 12 March 2020 to 31 December 2020 with eligible businesses being those with an aggregated turnover of less than $500 million. There is no limit to the number of assets a business can claim under this threshold. Both new and second-hand assets are eligible.

Should you wish to take advantage of this incentive, please contact your MGI South Queensland advisor.