Thinking of making a major business investment? Now could be the perfect time to purchase new equipment for your business. As 2009 winds down, so does your chance to take advantage of tax incentives put in place by the Economic Stimulus Package for the American People Act of 2008 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. One of the incentives that can save you a bundle on your 2009 tax bill is the increased Section 179 expensing limits.
What it is: The stimulus doubles the small-business expensing limit from $125,000 to $250,000. For the 2009 tax year, small-business owners deduct up to $250,000 of purchased equipment or software as soon as it is put to use.
What qualifies: You can deduct heavy machinery, computers, office furniture, equipment and vehicles under Section 179, but not property investment, including land or building upgrades. Any eligible investment must be made and placed in service by December 31, 2009. If you hold off on these investments until 2010, the allowance will fall back to approximately $133,000.
What it means for your laundry business: Expensing allows you to reduce your taxable income for the year simply by making an investment in your business. And unlike normal depreciation rules, you can claim a larger deduction in the year the investment is made. While you can reduce your taxable income with a Section 179 deduction, you cannot deduct more than your annual business income.