The temporary full expensing of depreciating assets has been extended for another year until 30 June 2023. The measure was originally introduced in 2020 as a part of the Federal government’s COVID-19 business rescue package aimed at encouraging business investment by providing a cash flow benefit. As originally introduced, the measure was due to end on 30 June 2022.

Businesses with an aggregated turnover below $5bn or those that meet an alternative eligibility test can deduct the full cost of eligible depreciating assets of any value that are first held and first used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose from 6 October 2020 until 30 June 2023.

For small business entities with an aggregated turnover of less than $10m, the temporary full expensing of depreciating asset rules has been effectively replaced with simplified depreciation rules for any assets first held and used or installed ready for use for a taxable purpose between 6 October 2020 and 30 June 2023. This means that the full cost of eligible depreciating assets as well as costs of improvements to existing eligible depreciating assets can be fully deducted.

While businesses that are not classified as small business entities have the option of choosing to apply the temporary full expensing rules on an asset-by-asset basis, small business entities that use the simplified depreciation rules does not have that choice and are required to deduct the balance of its general small business pool in full. If a small business entity does not use the simplified depreciation rules, they have the choice to opt-out of temporary full expensing rules on an asset-by-asset basis.

A choice to not apply the temporary full expensing rules for a particular asset must be made in an approved form by the day the business lodges its income tax return for the income year to which the choice relates. Once made, the choice is irrevocable.

Not all costs relating to assets qualify for temporary full expensing. For example,  building and other capital works, as well as software development pools do not generally qualify. Second-hand assets that would otherwise meet the eligibility conditions also do not qualify for temporary full expensing if the entity that holds them has an aggregated turnover of $50m or more.

Special rules also apply to cars, where the temporary full expensing is limited to the business portion of the car limit, for example, if a business entity purchases a car that costs $70,000 in 2021-22 that is used for both business (60% of the time) and personal purposes (40% of the time). The car limit for the 2021-22 year is $60,733. The temporary full expensing amount allowed would be $36,439 (60% of $60,733).