Limits on Depreciation Deduction

Section 280F [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+26USC280F Sec. 280F Limitation on depreciation for luxury automobiles; limitation where certain property used for personal purposes] , Internal Revenue code, Subtitle A Income taxes, Chapter 1 Normal taxes and surtaxes, Subchapter B Computation of taxable income, Part IX Items not deductible.] was enacted to limit certain deductions on depreciable assets. To put 280F in context a general understanding of 167(a) [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+26USC167 Sec. 167. Depreciation] , Internal Revenue code, Subtitle A Income taxes, Chapter 1 Normal taxes and surtaxes, Subchapter B Computation of taxable income, Part VI Itemized deductions for individuals and corporations.] and 179 [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=browse_usc&docid=Cite:+26USC179 Sec. 179. Election to expense certain depreciable business assets] , Internal Revenue code, Subtitle A Income taxes, Chapter 1 Normal taxes and surtaxes, Subchapter B Computation of taxable income, Part VI Itemized deductions for individuals and corporations.] is useful.

Section 167(a) allows a depreciation deduction for property used in the trade or business of the taxpayer. If property is used partially for business and partially for personal use, the basis of the property must be allocated between those uses. [Sharp v. United States, 199 F. Supp. 743, 747 (D.C. Del. 1961)]

Under Section 179, a taxpayer may elect to expense (deduct) all or a portion of the cost of the depreciable property purchased during the taxable year if it was intended to have a business use, despite generally having to capitalize this property. However, Section 280F was enacted to limit these deductions on certain listed property.

Listed property includes luxury automobiles as well as the other assets listed in 280F(d)(4). For passenger automobiles, section 280F(a)(1)(A) limits the depreciation deduction by listing the amounts a taxpayer can deduct in the years following its purchase. These listed amounts are subject to an adjustment for inflation under 280F(d)(7).(a) The sum for 2007, after adjustment for inflation, is $12,800. These limits seem to reflect what the legislature means by using the term “luxury automobile.”

Passenger automobiles fall within the definition of “listed property” as well. 280F(d)(4)(i), see also Ferrada v. Commissioner, T.C. Summary Opinion 2004-93 (2004). Other “listed property” is subjected to more limitations, under 168(g), if it is “not predominantly used in a qualified business.” 280F(b)(1). If listed property is not used for a qualified business, the accelerated depreciation deductions will be recaptured under 280F(b)(2). Whether a listed property qualifies as being used predominantly for business is determined by section 280F(b)(3).

Under 280F(b)(3), if the business use is less than 50%, only straight-line depreciation may be used. Even if the taxpayer uses the automobile, or other listed property, exclusively for business use, the depreciation deductions are still limited by 280F(b)(3). There are some exceptions as seen in 280F(d)(5)(B) and 280F(d)(6)(C).

Section 280F is a policy that makes the Internal Revenue Code more accurate by allowing a taxpayer to report their business use on an asset they may also need for some personal reasons.

ee also

*Depreciation recapture
*Section 179 depreciation deduction

References