Deductions and Write-Offs

Most tangible, depreciable property placed in service after 1986 is called MACRS property. MACRS 10-year property includes vessels, barges, tugs and similar water transportation equipment, any tree or vine bearing fruit or nuts, and single purpose agricultural or horticultural structures.

Most tangible, depreciable property placed in service after 1986 is called MACRS property. MACRS 20-year property includes farm buildings other than agricultural or horticultural structures and some municipal sewers not classified as 25 year property,

Most tangible, depreciable property placed in service after 1986 is called MACRS property. MACRS 25 year property includes certain water utility property.

For rental property placed in service after December 31, 1986 the depreciation cost is recovered over 27.5 years.
Only the cost of the structure is allowed as a depreciation deduction; the value of land cannot be depreciated.
If the property is used for commercial purposes, it must be depreciated over 39 years.

For a rental property with a class life of 27.5, the roof (improvement) would also use 27.5 as the recovery period. For a non-residential commercial building treated as 39 years MACRS property, the roof would also use 39 years.
Additions and improvements to a property are depreciated under MACRS in the same way as the deduction for the property would be figured if the property had been put in service at the same time as the addition or improvement.

Amortization is similar to the straight line method of depreciation in that an annual deduction is allowed to recover certain costs over a fixed period of time.
Examples of amortizable items are costs of starting a business, goodwill, customer lists, franchise fees, licenses, trademarks and certain other intangibles, reforestation and pollution control facilities. Amortization is reportable on IRS Form 4562.

Generally, the maximum section 179 expense deduction is $500,000 for section 179 properties placed in service in 2013.
If you elect to expense section 179 property, you must reduce the amount on which you figure your depreciation or amortization deduction (including any special depreciation allowance) by the section 179 expense deduction.
You may elect to deduct all or part of the cost of certain qualifying property in the year you place the asset in service as opposed to recovering the cost over the assets useful life(depreciation). This choice is called a Section 179 Election.
Any disallowed amount in the current year may be carried over to future years.
The 179 deduction is reportable on IRS Form 4562. You can elect to expense part or all (up to $500,000) of the cost of section 179 property that you placed in service during the tax year and used predominantly (more than 50%) in your trade or business.

A section 179 expense can only be elected on property used 50% or more in a trade or business.

Equipment that is used for personal and business purposes is called "listed property".
Listed property includes automobiles (weighing 6,000 lbs. or less), cellular telephones, computers and peripheral equipment,
property used for entertainment, recreation or amusement, such as boats, airplanes, and photographic, sound or video recording equipment.
There are certain limitations associated with listed property. Listed property deductions are reportable on IRS Form 4562, part 5.