Search for     
ato.gov.au        Individuals section only        
Advanced search
Search tips
 

Guide to depreciating assets 2005-06

 
 Increase text size  Decrease text size
 
Warning: This information may not apply to the current year. Check the content carefully to ensure it is applicable to your circumstances.

Low-value pools

From 1 July 2000, an optional low-value pooling arrangement for plant was introduced. It applied to certain plant costing less than $1,000 or having an undeducted cost of less than $1,000. Such plant could be allocated to a low-value pool and depreciated at statutory rates.

The UCA adopts most of the former rules for a low-value pool. From 1 July 2001, the decline in value of certain depreciating assets can be worked out through a low-value pool.

Transitional rules apply so that a low-value pool created before 1 July 2001 continues and is treated as if it were created under the UCA. The closing balance of the pool worked out under the former rules is used to start working out the decline in value of the depreciating assets in the pool under the UCA rules.

Under the UCA, you can allocate low-cost assets and low-value assets to a low-value pool.

A low-cost asset is a depreciating asset whose cost is less than $1,000 (after GST credits or adjustments) as at the end of the income year in which you started to use it, or had it installed ready for use, for a taxable purpose.

A low-value asset is a depreciating asset:

  • that is not a low-cost asset
  • that has an opening adjustable value for the current year of less than $1,000, and
  • for which you used the diminishing value method to work out any deductions for decline in value for a previous income year.

The decline in value of an asset you hold jointly with others is worked out on the cost of your interest in the asset. This means if you hold an asset jointly and the cost of your interest in the asset or the opening adjustable value of your interest is less than $1,000, you can allocate your interest in the asset to your low-value pool - see Jointly held depreciating assets.

The following depreciating assets cannot be allocated to a low-value pool:

Sections within Low-value pools

Last Modified: Tuesday, 18 July 2006

 
Table of contents
Copies of this publication
About this guide
Abbreviations used in this publication
New treatment for blackhole expenditure
Deductions for the cost of depreciating assets
The uniform capital allowance system
What is a depreciating asset?
Who can claim deductions for the decline in value of a depreciating asset?
Working out decline in value
Immediate deduction (for certain non-business depreciating assets costing $300 or less)
Effective life
The cost of a depreciating asset
What happens if you no longer hold or use a depreciating asset?
Low-value pools
In-house software
Common-rate pools
Primary production depreciating assets
Plants with an effective life of three or more years
Capital expenditure deductible under the UCA
Landcare operations
Electricity connections and telephone lines
Environmental protection activities
Mining and quarrying and minerals transport
Project pools
Business related costs - section 40-880 deductions
STS taxpayers
Record keeping
Completing the capital allowances schedule 2006
Definitions
Guidelines for using the depreciating assets worksheet
Guidelines for using the low-value pool worksheet
More information
Our commitment to you
How self-assessment affects you
Give us your feedback
 
Top of page
More information on page