CHAPTER 2
-
LIABILITY RULES OF GENERAL APPLICATION
PART 2-10
-
CAPITAL ALLOWANCES: RULES ABOUT DEDUCTIBILITY OF CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Division 40
-
Capital allowances
History
Div 40 substituted for Divs 40, 41 and 42 by No 76 of 2001.
Subdivision 40-I
-
Capital expenditure that is deductible over time
History
Subdiv 40-I inserted by No 76 of 2001.
Operative provisions
SECTION 40-880
Business related costs
Object
40-880(1)
The object of this section is to make certain *business capital expenditure deductible over 5 years, or immediately in the case of some start-up expenses for small businesses, if:
(a)
the expenditure is not otherwise taken into account; and
(b)
a deduction is not denied by some other provision; and
(c)
the business is, was or is proposed to be carried on for a *taxable purpose.
Note:
If Division
250
applies to you and an asset:
(a) if section
250-150
applies
-
you cannot deduct an amount for capital expenditure you incur in relation to the asset to the extent specified under subsection
250-150(3)
; or
(b) otherwise
-
you cannot deduct an amount for such expenditure.
History
S 40-880(1) amended by No 15 of 2017, s 3 and Sch 4 item 48, by substituting para (a) of the note, effective 1 April 2017. Para (a) of the note formerly read:
(a) if section 250-150 applies
-
you can deduct an amount for capital expenditure you incur in relation to the asset to the extent specified in a determination made under subsection 250-150(3); or
S 40-880(1) amended by No 114 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 2 item 2, by inserting
"
, or immediately in the case of some start-up expenses for small businesses,
"
, applicable in relation to assessments for the 2015-16 income year and later income years.
S 40-880(1) amended by No 70 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 6 item 23, by substituting
"
carried on
"
for
"
*carried on
"
in para (c), effective 25 June 2015.
S 40-880(1) amended by
No 164 of 2007
, s 3 and Sch 1 item 56, by inserting the note at the end, effective 25 September 2007.
Deduction
40-880(2)
You can deduct, in equal proportions over a period of 5 income years starting in the year in which you incur it, capital expenditure you incur:
(a)
in relation to your *business; or
(b)
in relation to a business that used to be carried on; or
(c)
in relation to a business proposed to be carried on; or
(d)
to liquidate or deregister a company of which you were a *member, to wind up a partnership of which you were a partner or to wind up a trust of which you were a beneficiary, that carried on a business.
History
S 40-880(2) amended by No 70 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 6 item 23, by substituting
"
carried on
"
for
"
*carried on
"
in para (b), effective 25 June 2015.
40-880(2A)
However, you can deduct the capital expenditure in the income year in which you incur it if:
(a)
the expenditure is incurred in relation to a business that is proposed to be carried on; and
(b)
the expenditure is incurred:
(i)
in obtaining advice or services relating to the proposed structure, or proposed operation of the business; or
(ii)
in payment to an *Australian government agency of fees, taxes or charges relating to establishing the business or its operating structure; and
(c)
you are a *small business entity, or an entity covered by subsection (2B), for the income year, or both of the following apply:
(i)
you are not carrying on a *business in the income year;
(ii)
you are not *connected with, or an *affiliate of, another entity that carries on a business in the income year and that is neither a small business entity, nor an entity covered by subsection (2B), for the income year.
History
S 40-880(2A) amended by No 92 of 2020, s 3 and Sch 3 items 25 and 26, by inserting
"
, or an entity covered by subsection (2B),
"
in para (c) and substituting
"
neither a small business entity, nor an entity covered by subsection (2B),
"
for
"
not a small business entity
"
in para (c)(ii), effective 1 January 2021 and applicable in relation to capital expenditure incurred on or after 1 July 2020.
S 40-880(2A) inserted by No 114 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 2 item 3, applicable in relation to assessments for the 2015-16 income year and later income years.
40-880(2B)
An entity is covered by this subsection for an income year if:
(a)
the entity is not a *small business entity for the income year; and
(b)
the entity would be a small business entity for the income year if:
(i)
each reference in Subdivision
328-C
(about what is a small business entity) to $10 million were instead a reference to $50 million; and
(ii)
the reference in paragraph
328-110(5)(b)
to a small business entity were instead a reference to an entity covered by this subsection.
History
S 40-880(2B) inserted by No 92 of 2020, s 3 and Sch 3 item 27, effective 1 January 2021 and applicable in relation to capital expenditure incurred on or after 1 July 2020.
Limitations and exceptions
40-880(3)
You can only deduct the expenditure, for a *business that you carry on, used to carry on or propose to carry on, to the extent that the business is carried on, was carried on or is proposed to be carried on for a *taxable purpose.
History
S 40-880(3) amended by No 70 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 6 item 24, by substituting
"
carry on
"
for
"
*carry on
"
, effective 25 June 2015.
40-880(4)
You can only deduct the expenditure, for a *business that another entity used to carry on or proposes to carry on, to the extent that:
(a)
the business was carried on or is proposed to be carried on for a *taxable purpose; and
(b)
the expenditure is in connection with:
(i)
your deriving assessable income from the business; and
(ii)
the business that was carried on or is proposed to be carried on.
History
S 40-880(4) amended by No 70 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 6 item 24, by substituting
"
carry on
"
for
"
*carry on
"
, effective 25 June 2015.
40-880(5)
You cannot deduct anything under this section for an amount of expenditure you incur to the extent that:
(a)
it forms part of the *cost of a *depreciating asset that you *hold, used to hold or will hold; or
(b)
you can deduct an amount for it under a provision of this Act other than this section; or
(c)
it forms part of the cost of land; or
(d)
it is in relation to a lease or other legal or equitable right; or
(e)
it would, apart from this section, be taken into account in working out:
(i)
a profit that is included in your assessable income (for example, under section
6-5
or
15-15
); or
(ii)
a loss that you can deduct (for example, under section
8-1
or
25-40
); or
(f)
it could, apart from this section, be taken into account in working out the amount of a *capital gain or *capital loss from a *CGT event; or
(g)
a provision of this Act other than this section would expressly make the expenditure non-deductible if it were not of a capital nature; or
(h)
a provision of this Act other than this section expressly prevents the expenditure being taken into account as described in paragraphs (a) to (f) for a reason other than the expenditure being of a capital nature; or
(i)
it is expenditure of a private or domestic nature; or
(j)
it is incurred in relation to gaining or producing *exempt income or *non-assessable non-exempt income.
40-880(6)
The exceptions in paragraphs (5)(d) and (f) do not apply to expenditure you incur to preserve (but not enhance) the value of goodwill if the expenditure you incur is in relation to a legal or equitable right and the value to you of the right is solely attributable to the effect that the right has on goodwill.
40-880(7)
You cannot deduct an amount under paragraph (2)(c) in relation to a *business proposed to be carried on unless, having regard to any relevant circumstances, it is reasonable to conclude that the business is proposed to be carried on within a reasonable time.
History
S 40-880(7) amended by No 70 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 6 item 25, by substituting
"
carried on
"
for
"
*carried on
"
, effective 25 June 2015.
40-880(8)
You cannot deduct anything under this section for an amount of expenditure that, because of a market value substitution rule, was excluded from the *cost of a *depreciating asset or the *cost base or *reduced cost base of a *CGT asset.
Note:
Some examples of market value substitution rules are subsection
40-180(2)
(table item 8), subsection
40-190(3)
(table item 1) and sections
40-765
and
112-20
.
40-880(9)
You cannot deduct anything under this section for an amount of expenditure you incur:
(a)
by way of returning an amount you have received (except to the extent that the amount was included in your assessable income or taken into account in working out an amount so included); or
(b)
to the extent that, for another entity, the amount is a *return on or of:
(i)
an *equity interest; or
(ii)
a *debt interest that is an obligation of yours.
History
S 40-880 substituted by No 32 of 2006, s 3 and Sch 2 item 30, applicable to expenditure incurred on or after 1 July 2005. S 40-880 formerly read:
SECTION 40-880 Business related costs
40-880(1)
You can deduct amounts for capital expenditure you incur that is one of these:
(a)
expenditure to establish your
*
business structure;
Example:
You incorporate a company or create some other structure, such as a partnership or trust, through which your business will be carried on. The capital expenditure you incur in doing this is covered by this paragraph.
(b)
expenditure to convert your business structure to a different structure;
Example:
Michael and Sandra operate a fish shop in partnership. They agree to incorporate their business so they dispose of the partnership assets to a company. The capital expenses of incorporating the company and of transferring the partnership assets to it are covered by this paragraph.
(c)
expenditure to raise equity for your business;
Example:
CL Ltd wishes to issue shares for business expansion. The capital expenditure it incurs to prepare and issue a prospectus for this purpose is covered by this paragraph.
(d)
expenditure to defend your business against a takeover;
Example:
MH Limited has made an offer to take over AL Limited. The capital expenditure incurred by AL Limited in complying with subsection 633(1) or 635(1) of the
Corporations Act 2001
is covered by this paragraph.
(e)
costs to your business of unsuccessfully attempting a takeover;
Example:
MGP Ltd tried unsuccessfully to take over MM Ltd. Capital expenditure incurred by MGP in complying with subsection 633(1) or 635(1) of the
Corporations Act 2001
is covered by this paragraph.
(f)
costs of liquidating a company that carried on a business and of which you are a shareholder;
(g)
costs to stop carrying on your business;
Example:
You stop carrying on your business and, in doing this, you incur legal costs in terminating the services of your employees. This expenditure is covered by this paragraph.
to the extent that the business is, was or will be carried on for a
*
taxable purpose.
History
S 40-880(1) amended by No 119 of 2002.
40-880(2)
The amount you can deduct is 20% of the expenditure:
(a)
for the income year in which you incur it; and
(b)
for each of the next 4 income years.
40-880(3)
However, you cannot deduct anything under this section for an amount of capital expenditure you incur to the extent that:
(a)
it forms part of the
*
cost of a
*
depreciating asset that you
*
hold; or
(b)
you can deduct an amount for it under a provision of this Act outside this section; or
(c)
it forms part of the cost of land; or
(d)
it is in relation to a lease or other legal or equitable right; or
(e)
it would, apart from this section, be taken into account in working out:
(i)
a profit that is included in your assessable income (for example, under section
6-5
or
15-15
); or
(ii)
a loss that you can deduct (for example, under section
8-1
or
25-40
); or
(f)
it would, apart from this section, be taken into account in working out the amount of a
*
capital gain or
*
capital loss from a
*
CGT event; or
(g)
it is specifically made non-deductible under another provision of this Act.
History
S 40-880(3) amended by No 119 of 2002.
S 40-880 inserted by No 76 of 2001.