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What happens if you no longer hold or use a depreciating asset?

Last updated 17 July 2006

If you cease to hold or to use a depreciating asset, a balancing adjustment event may occur. If there is a balancing adjustment event, you need to calculate a balancing adjustment amount to include in your assessable income or to claim as a deduction.

A balancing adjustment event occurs for a depreciating asset when:

  • you stop holding it - for example, if the asset is sold, lost or destroyed
  • you stop using it and expect never to use it again
  • you stop having it installed ready for use and you expect never to install it ready for use again
  • you have not used it and decide never to use it, or
  • a change occurs in the holding or interests in an asset which was or is to become a partnership asset.

A balancing adjustment event does not occur just because a depreciating asset is split or merged - see Split or merged depreciating assets.

However, a balancing adjustment event does occur if you stop holding part of a depreciating asset.

Expenses of a balancing adjustment event (such as advertising or commission expenses) may be included in the second element of the cost of the depreciating asset - see The cost of a depreciating asset.

You work out the balancing adjustment amount by comparing the asset's termination value (such as the proceeds from the sale of an asset) and its adjustable value at the time of the balancing adjustment event. See Termination value for information about how to work out an asset's termination value.

If the termination value is greater than the adjustable value, you include the excess in your assessable income.

If the termination value is less than the adjustable value, you can deduct the difference.

Example: Working out an assessable balancing adjustment amount - ignoring any GST impact

Bridget purchased a cabinet which she held for two years and used wholly for a taxable purpose. She then sold the cabinet for $1,300. Its adjustable value at the time was $1,200.

As the termination value of $1,300 is greater than the adjustable value of the cabinet at the time of its sale, the difference of $100 is included in Bridget's assessable income as an assessable balancing adjustment amount.

End of example

 

Example: Working out a deductible balancing adjustment amount - ignoring any GST impact

If Bridget sold the cabinet for $1,000, the termination value would be less than the adjustable value of the cabinet at the time of its sale ($1,200). The difference of $200 is a deductible balancing adjustment amount.

End of example

There are situations where these general balancing adjustment rules do not apply:

A GST liability will generally occur when a depreciating asset is disposed of by a GST registered entity - see the fact sheet GST and the disposal of capital assets (NAT 7682-11.2004) available on our website, for more information.

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