(2) The proposed regulations would provide guidance regarding the additional
first-year depreciation deduction under section 168(k) and reflect changes made by Public Law 115-97, informally known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "Act").
SUVs and trucks that weigh more than 6,000 pounds (gross vehicle weight) are not limited to the $18,000
first-year depreciation deduction.
The percentage for figuring the additional
first-year depreciation allowance, called bonus depreciation, for property placed in service after September 27, 2017, has been doubled to 100% (IRC section 168).
$8,000 increase in
first-year depreciation limit for passenger automobiles
Beyond expensing under Section 179, "bonus" depreciation has allowed additional
first-year depreciation deductions for amounts spent on certain business equipment.
On the positive side, additional
first-year depreciation will be allowed for qualified improvement property without regard to whether the improvements are property that's subject to a lease.
* Assets not eligible for additional
first-year depreciation (including assets for which an election to forgo additional
first-year depreciation has been made) must be grouped into a separate GAA;
Along with the expensing provision, the ability to take an additional
first-year depreciation deduction also benefits farmers making capital purchases.
The additional 50 percent
first-year depreciation deduction for investments in qualified property is extended for property placed in service in 2013.
The $8,000 increase in the
first-year depreciation cap for passenger automobiles for which bon us depreciation is claimed remains unchanged and continues to apply to vehicles placed in service during 2013.
Code Sec 179 expensing should be taken first, followed by bonus depreciation, and then regular
first-year depreciation. Careful consideration should be taken when planning for depreciation; for example certain taxpayers may benefit from electing out of bonus depreciation, and certain property qualifies for Code sec.
The amount of
first-year depreciation has been 30 percent, 50 percent or 100 percent and has most recently been reduced to 50 percent for 2012.