26 USC 179 - Election to expense certain depreciable business assets

U.S Code last checked for updates: Sep 26, 2025

§ 179.

Election to expense certain depreciable business assets

(a)

Treatment as expenses

(b)

Limitations

(1)

Dollar limitation

(2)

Reduction in limitation

(3)

Limitation based on income from trade or business

(A)

In general

(B)

Carryover of disallowed deduction

The amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) for any taxable year shall be increased by the lesser of—

(i)

the aggregate amount disallowed under subparagraph (A) for all prior taxable years (to the extent not previously allowed as a deduction by reason of this subparagraph), or

(ii)

the excess (if any) of—

(I)

the limitation of paragraphs (1) and (2) (or if lesser, the aggregate amount of taxable income referred to in subparagraph (A)), over

(II)

the amount allowable as a deduction under subsection (a) for such taxable year without regard to this subparagraph.

(C)

Computation of taxable income

(4)

Married individuals filing separately

In the case of a husband and wife filing separate returns for the taxable year—

(A)

such individuals shall be treated as 1 taxpayer for purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), and

(B)

unless such individuals elect otherwise, 50 percent of the cost which may be taken into account under subsection (a) for such taxable year (before application of paragraph (3)) shall be allocated to each such individual.

(5)

Limitation on cost taken into account for certain passenger vehicles

(A)

In general

(B)

Sport utility vehicle

For purposes of subparagraph (A)—

(i)

In general

The term “sport utility vehicle” means any 4-wheeled vehicle—

(I)

which is primarily designed or which can be used to carry passengers over public streets, roads, or highways (except any vehicle operated exclusively on a rail or rails),

(II)

which is not subject to section 280F, and

(III)

which is rated at not more than 14,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

(ii)

Certain vehicles excluded

Such term does not include any vehicle which—

(I)

is designed to have a seating capacity of more than 9 persons behind the driver’s seat,

(II)

is equipped with a cargo area of at least 6 feet in interior length which is an open area or is designed for use as an open area but is enclosed by a cap and is not readily accessible directly from the passenger compartment, or

(III)

has an integral enclosure, fully enclosing the driver compartment and load carrying device, does not have seating rearward of the driver’s seat, and has no body section protruding more than 30 inches ahead of the leading edge of the windshield.

(6)

Inflation adjustment

(A)

In general

In the case of any taxable year beginning after 2018 (2025 in the case of the dollar amounts in paragraphs (1) and (2)), the dollar amounts in paragraphs (1), (2), and (5)(A) shall each be increased by an amount equal to—

(i)

such dollar amount, multiplied by

(ii)

the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof—

(I)

in the case of amounts in paragraphs (1) and (2), “calendar year 2024” for “calendar year 2016”, and

(II)

in the case of the amount in paragraph (5)(A), “calendar year 2017” for “calendar year 2016”.

(B)

Rounding

(c)

Election

(1)

In general

An election under this section for any taxable year shall—

(A)

specify the items of section 179 property to which the election applies and the portion of the cost of each of such items which is to be taken into account under subsection (a), and

(B)

be made on the taxpayer’s return of the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year.

Such election shall be made in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe.

(2)

Election

(d)

Definitions and special rules

(1)

Section 179 property

For purposes of this section, the term “section 179 property” means property—

(A)

which is—

(i)

tangible property (to which section 168 applies), or

(ii)

computer software (as defined in section 197(e)(3)(B)) which is described in section 197(e)(3)(A)(i) and to which section 167 applies,

(B)

which is—

(i)

section 1245 property (as defined in section 1245(a)(3)), or

(ii)

at the election of the taxpayer, qualified real property (as defined in subsection (e)), and

(C)

which is acquired by purchase for use in the active conduct of a trade or business.

Such term shall not include any property described in section 50(b) (other than paragraph (2) thereof).

(2)

Purchase defined

For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “purchase” means any acquisition of property, but only if—

(A)

the property is not acquired from a person whose relationship to the person acquiring it would result in the disallowance of losses under section 267 or 707(b) (but, in applying section 267(b) and (c) for purposes of this section, paragraph (4) of section 267(c) shall be treated as providing that the family of an individual shall include only his spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants),

(B)

the property is not acquired by one component member of a controlled group from another component member of the same controlled group, and

(C)

the basis of the property in the hands of the person acquiring it is not determined—

(i)

in whole or in part by reference to the adjusted basis of such property in the hands of the person from whom acquired, or

(ii)

under section 1014(a) (relating to property acquired from a decedent).

(3)

Cost

(4)

Section not to apply to estates and trusts

(5)

Section not to apply to certain noncorporate lessors

This section shall not apply to any section 179 property which is purchased by a person who is not a corporation and with respect to which such person is the lessor unless—

(A)

the property subject to the lease has been manufactured or produced by the lessor, or

(B)

the term of the lease (taking into account options to renew) is less than 50 percent of the class life of the property (as defined in section 168(i)(1)), and for the period consisting of the first 12 months after the date on which the property is transferred to the lessee the sum of the deductions with respect to such property which are allowable to the lessor solely by reason of section 162 (other than rents and reimbursed amounts with respect to such property) exceeds 15 percent of the rental income produced by such property.

(6)

Dollar limitation of controlled group

For purposes of subsection (b) of this section—

(A)

all component members of a controlled group shall be treated as one taxpayer, and

(B)

the Secretary shall apportion the dollar limitation contained in subsection (b)(1) among the component members of such controlled group in such manner as he shall by regulations prescribe.

(7)

Controlled group defined

(8)

Treatment of partnerships and S corporations

(9)

Coordination with section 38

(10)

Recapture in certain cases

(e)

Qualified real property

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified real property” means—

(1)

any qualified improvement property described in section 168(e)(6), and

(2)

any of the following improvements to nonresidential real property placed in service after the date such property was first placed in service:

(A)

Roofs.

(B)

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning property.

(C)

Fire protection and alarm systems.

(D)

Security systems.

(Added Pub. L. 85–866, title II, § 204(a), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1679; amended Pub. L. 87–834, § 13(c)(2), Oct. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 1034; Pub. L. 91–172, title IV, § 401(f), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 603; Pub. L. 94–455, title II, § 213(a), title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1547, 1834; Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 202(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 219; Pub. L. 97–354, § 3(f), Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1689; Pub. L. 97–448, title I, § 102(aa), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2369; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title I, § 13, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 505; Pub. L. 99–514, title II, §§ 201(d)(3), 202, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2139, 2142; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1002(a)(19), (b)(1), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3356, 3357; Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11813(b)(11), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–554; Pub. L. 103–66, title XIII, § 13116(a), Aug. 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 432; Pub. L. 104–188, title I, §§ 1111(a), 1702(h)(10), (19), Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat. 1758, 1874; Pub. L. 108–27, title II, § 202(a)–(e), May 28, 2003, 117 Stat. 757, 758; Pub. L. 108–357, title II, § 201, title VIII, § 910(a), Oct. 22, 2004, 118 Stat. 1429, 1659; Pub. L. 109–222, title I, § 101, May 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 346;

cite as: 26 USC 179