Section 179 Deductions & Supply Chain Shortages in 2021 — What This Means for You

If you are a small business owner, multi-family investor, or real estate investor, then you are more than likely very familiar with Section 179 Tax Deductions. Sect. 179 is a tax deduction commonly used by business owners in order to reduce their federal tax liability through the purchase of equipment for their business.

What is the Section 179 Tax Deduction?

Essentially, Section 179 of the IRS tax code allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment purchased or financed during the tax year. That means that if you buy (or lease) a piece of qualifying equipment, you can deduct the FULL PURCHASE PRICE from your gross income. It’s an incentive created by the U.S. government to encourage businesses to buy equipment and re-invest in themselves. Section 179 was designed and developed for small-medium sized businesses by the U.S. Government in order to help relieve them of their overall tax liability.

How Does Section 179 Work?

In previous years, when a business made a purchase for qualifying equipment, they typically write off a fraction of that purchase each year through depreciation. If the company spent $50,000 on a piece of machinery, they would write off for example $10,000 per year for 5 years. Section 179 allows small businesses to avoid this incremental write off for multiple years, and instead allows them to write off the full purchase amount in the first year. So that $50,000 piece of equipment would be written off as $50,000 in the same year, rather than spread out over a period of time.

What is the Maximum Deduction Limit?

There are limits to the amount and type of equipment you can purchase for your company. The total purchase cap for 2021 is set at $1,050,000. The deduction begins to phase out on a dollar-for-dollar basis after $2,620,000 is spent by a given business (thus, the entire deduction goes away once $3,670,000 in purchases is reached)

Now, Section 179 “allows your business to write off the entire purchase price of qualifying equipment for the current tax year”

In 2021, businesses can deduct the full price of qualified HVAC equipment purchases, up to $1,050,000. There’s a total equipment purchase limit of $2,620,000.

• 2021 deduction limit: $1,050,000
• 2021 spending cap: $2,620,000
• Bonus depreciation (on both new and used equipment): 100%

Who Qualifies for Section 179?

All businesses that purchase, finance, and/or lease new or used business equipment during tax year 2021 should qualify for the Section 179 Deduction (assuming they spend less than $3,670,000). Most tangible goods used by businesses, including HVAC systems, water heaters, and generators qualify for the Section 179 Deduction. For basic guidelines on what property is covered under the Section 179 tax code, please refer to this list of qualifying equipment. Also, to qualify for the Section 179 Deduction, the equipment and/or software purchased or financed must be placed into service between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. For 2021, $1,050,000 of assets can be expensed; that amount phases out dollar for dollar when $2,620,000 of qualified assets are placed in service.

Section 179’s “More Than 50 Percent Business-Use” Requirement

The equipment, vehicle(s), and/or software must be used for business purposes more than 50% of the time to qualify for the Section 179 Deduction. Simply multiply the cost of the equipment, vehicle(s), and/or software by the percentage of business-use to arrive at the monetary amount eligible for Section 179.

Do HVAC Systems Qualify for Section 179 Deductions?

Short Answer: Yes- HVAC systems, heat pumps, geothermal systems, air conditioners, & furnaces qualify for the full Section 179 Deduction in 2021.

If you are a property owner, multi-family investor, or small business owner, then one of the best investments you can make for your building(s) is to replace your out-dated or inefficient HVAC system.

HVAC systems weren’t always covered by this deduction, but recent policies have gone into effect which allow them to be written off. That means that it is more important than ever to upgrade your HVAC system(s) immediately before the policy is revisited.

In 2017, Congress has passed new tax reform policies, which have been known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and went into effect on January 1, 2018. The act changed the process for depreciating and expensing, including an update that makes HVAC equipment purchases qualified in the Section 179 deduction. Before Jan. 1, 2018, HVAC equipment was considered a capital improvement, instead of a business expense.

In the past year and a half due to COVID-19, there has been a major emphasis on HVAC systems, indoor air quality, and health. Replacing your HVAC system is a great way to take advantage of this year’s tax deductions & improve the overall health of your buildings’ occupants.

Supply Chain Shortages: How they Affect Section 179

Due to a number of factors, many of which were outlined in a previous article published by us — equipment, parts, vehicles, hardware, and more have become scarce, & hard to obtain this year. Many businesses roll their 179 deductions into new vehicles for the company — but because of ongoing supply chain issues, they have become harder & harder to source & have delivered. This year, many business owners are beginning to look to new equipment purchases like HVAC systems outside of traditional purchases like vehicles.

Get a Free Quote to Replace & Upgrade Your Businesses’ HVAC System

If you are a small business owner, multi-family investor, or real estate investor in Northwest Arkansas, SW Missouri, or the Fort Smith River Valley — then you should be taking advantage of this deduction immediately. New systems must be installed & placed into service before December 31, 2021. This means that you should start the process of getting a replacement quote today. Contact Us or call our office at 479–346–2131 to speak with a comfort specialist & begin the process of receiving a system replacement quote. As a reminder, this article does not serve as tax advice, and should not be treated as such. You should first consult with your tax advisor or accountant to determine what is right for your business.

Sources: Section179.org, irs.gov