Relief for Small Businesses

The Internal Revenue Service recently simplified the paperwork and record-keeping requirements for small businesses by raising the safe harbor threshold for deducting certain capital items from $500 to $2,500.

The change affects businesses that do not maintain an applicable financial statement (audited financial statement). It applies to amounts spent to acquire, produce or improve tangible property that would normally qualify as a capital item.

The new $2,500 threshold applies to any such item substantiated by an invoice. As a result, small businesses will be able to immediately deduct many expenditures that would otherwise need to be spread over a period of years through annual depreciation deductions.

As before, businesses can still claim otherwise deductible repair and maintenance costs, even if they exceed the $2,500 threshold.

The new $2,500 threshold takes effect starting with tax year 2016. In addition, the IRS will provide audit protection to eligible businesses by not challenging use of the new $2,500 threshold in tax years prior to 2016. Therefore, we recommend that businesses apply the $2,500 rule for the 2015 taxable year.

IRS Notice 2015-82

Please call contact us for further information regarding this very favorable taxpayer change.