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P17, P18, P19 and P20 – depreciating assets

Last updated 20 July 2023

Instructions to complete P17, P18, P19 and P20 – depreciating assets.

P17 Intangible depreciating assets first deducted

Do you use the simplified depreciation rules?

Yes

Small business entities using the simplified depreciation rules do not complete this item. Go to question P21 Trading stock election.

No

Read on.

Did you start to deduct the decline in value of any intangible depreciating assets?

No

Go to P18 Other depreciating assets first deducted.

Yes

Read on.

You need to know

The following intangible assets are regarded as depreciating assets (as long as they are not trading stock):

  • certain items of intellectual property, such as patents, registered designs, copyrights and certain types of licences
  • computer software (or a right to use computer software) that you acquire, develop or have someone else develop for your use for the purposes for which it is designed (in-house software)
  • mining, quarrying or prospecting rights and information
  • certain indefeasible rights to use a telecommunications cable system
  • certain telecommunications site access rights
  • spectrum licences.

A depreciating asset that you hold starts to decline in value from the time you use it or install it ready for use for any purpose, including a private purpose. However, you can only claim a deduction for the decline in value to the extent that you use the asset for a taxable purpose, such as for producing assessable income.

At question P17 you need to show the cost of all intangible depreciating assets for which you are claiming a business deduction for decline in value for the first time. If you have allocated any intangible depreciating assets with a cost of less than $1,000 to a low-value pool for the income year, you also need to include the cost of those assets at question P17. Do not reduce the cost for estimated non-taxable use.

Expenditure on in-house software that you allocated to a software development pool is not shown at question P17.

For more information, see Guide to depreciating assets 2023.

Completing this item

Step 1 Add up the costs of intangible depreciating assets first deducted from each business. This will include any amounts claimed under temporary full expensing.

Step 2 Enter the total at question P17 – label I on page 4 of your schedule. Do not show cents.

P18 Other depreciating assets first deducted

Do you use the simplified depreciation rules?

Yes

Small business entities using the simplified depreciation rules do not complete this item. Go to question P21 Trading stock election.

No

Read on.

Did you start to deduct the decline in value of any other depreciating assets in 2022–23?

No

Go to question P19 Termination value of intangible depreciating assets.

Yes

Read on.

You need to know

A depreciating asset that you hold starts to decline in value from the time you use it or install it ready for use for any purpose, including a private purpose. However, you can claim a deduction for the decline in value only to the extent you use the asset for a taxable purpose, such as for producing assessable income.

At question P18 you need to include the cost of all depreciating assets (other than intangible depreciating assets) for which you are claiming a business deduction for the decline in value for the first time.

If you have allocated any depreciating assets with a cost of less than $1,000 to a low-value pool for 2022–23, you also need to include the cost of those assets at question P18. Do not reduce the cost for estimated non-taxable use.

To calculate the decline in value of these assets use the Depreciation and capital allowances tool.

For more information, see Guide to depreciating assets 2023.

Completing this item

Step 1 Add up the costs of other depreciating assets first deducted from each business. This will include any amounts claimed under temporary full expensing.

Step 2 Show the total at question P18 – label J on page 5 of your schedule. Do not show cents.

P19 Termination value of intangible depreciating assets

Do you use the simplified depreciation rules?

Yes

Small business entities using the simplified depreciation rules do not complete this question. Go to P21 Trading stock election.

No

Read on.

Did you stop holding or using any intangible depreciating assets in 2022–23?

No

Go to P20 Termination value of other depreciating assets.

Yes

Read on.

You need to know

Do not show at this question any consideration you received during 2022–23 in relation to in-house software for which you have allocated expenditure to a software development pool.

Include the termination values for intangible depreciating assets (including intangible assets allocated to a low-value pool) that you stopped holding or using during 2022–23 (for example, assets you sold, or that were lost or destroyed).

Generally, the termination value is the amount you received or are deemed to have received for the asset that you stopped holding or using. It includes the market value of any non-cash benefits, such as goods and services, you received for the asset.

Where

  • the amount you received or were deemed to have received for the asset was less than its market value, and
  • you did not deal at arm's length with another party to the transaction,

the termination value is the market value of the asset just before you stopped holding it.

Completing this question

Step 1 Add up the amounts you received or are deemed to have received for all intangible depreciating assets that you stopped holding or using in your business, other than:

  • assets allocated in a prior year to the general small business pool or the formerly available long-life small business pool
  • low-cost assets for which an immediate deduction has been allowed under the simplified depreciation rules
  • in-house software for which you allocated expenditure to a software development pool.

If you have more than one business, add up the termination value of intangible depreciating assets amounts for each business.

Step 2 Show the total at question P19 – label D on page 5 of your schedule. Do not show cents.

For more information, see Guide to depreciating assets 2023.

P20 Termination value of other depreciating assets

Do you use the simplified depreciation rules?

Yes

Small business entities using the simplified depreciation rules do not complete this question. Go to P21 Trading stock election.

No

Read on.

Did you stop holding or using any other depreciating assets in 2022–23?

No

Go to P21 Trading stock election.

Yes

Read on.

You need to know

At question P20 you include the termination values for other depreciating assets (including assets allocated to a low-value pool) that you stopped holding or using during 2022–23 (for example, assets you sold, disposed of under a private or domestic arrangement, or that were lost or destroyed).

Generally, the termination value is the amount you received or are deemed to have received for the asset that you stopped holding or using. It includes the market value of any non-cash benefits, such as goods and services, you received for the asset.

Where:

  • the amount you received or were deemed to have received for the asset was less than its market value, and
  • you did not deal at arm's length with another party to the transaction,

the termination value is the market value of the asset just before you stopped holding it.

Completing this question

Step 1 Add up the amounts you received or are deemed to have received for all depreciating assets that you stopped holding or using in your business other than:

  • intangible depreciating assets
  • assets allocated in a prior year to the general small business pool or the formerly available long-life small business pool
  • assets for which an immediate deduction has been allowed under the simplified depreciation rules
  • buildings or structures for which a deduction is available under the capital works provisions
  • assets falling within the provisions relating to investments in Australian films.

If you have more than one business, add up the termination value of other depreciating assets for each business.

Step 2 Show the total at question P20 – label K on page 5 of your schedule. Do not show cents.

For more information, see Guide to depreciating assets 2023.

Continue to: P21 Trading stock election

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