Unfortunately, nothing but toilet paper appears to be more expendable than a personal computer.
Yes, I depreciate home personal computers used in the business as "listed property." I can't say no to customers who buy these things and do use them for business purposes, even if most of them claim unrealistic percentage of business use. It is quite common for me to accept a business % as much as 80%, but they're going to really have to sell me on the spectre of a home computer with less than 20% personal use.
[I emphasize "home" computers because if the PC is physically located in a place of business I will depreciate the whole thing.]
The above-described situation is generous enough, in my opinion. But it gets worse.
Many people replace their computers every two years, more or less. And of course, they want to depreciate the new cost all over again. And I will do the same thing all over again, EXCEPT: They have to tell me what they did with the old computer. There is an easy solution if they trade in the "old" computer on the new one, but I've just never seen this happen.
None of them admit to selling their old computers, and in reality, it seldom happens. The old unit gets given to the kids, given to a relative, or just sits in storage somewhere. Some of them end up given to a school, and in those situations the donors give a worthless ATARI with "Pong" that will never be used to a school and then want to take a charity deduction of hundreds of dollars. Old units often end up just thrown away.
After all this, I do finally have a question: What do YOU do with this situation??
I allow up to 80% of the new computer, and if there is residual value in the old computer I will show it disposed. I will not allow more than one "business" computer in the home at any given time.
Comments???
Yes, I depreciate home personal computers used in the business as "listed property." I can't say no to customers who buy these things and do use them for business purposes, even if most of them claim unrealistic percentage of business use. It is quite common for me to accept a business % as much as 80%, but they're going to really have to sell me on the spectre of a home computer with less than 20% personal use.
[I emphasize "home" computers because if the PC is physically located in a place of business I will depreciate the whole thing.]
The above-described situation is generous enough, in my opinion. But it gets worse.
Many people replace their computers every two years, more or less. And of course, they want to depreciate the new cost all over again. And I will do the same thing all over again, EXCEPT: They have to tell me what they did with the old computer. There is an easy solution if they trade in the "old" computer on the new one, but I've just never seen this happen.
None of them admit to selling their old computers, and in reality, it seldom happens. The old unit gets given to the kids, given to a relative, or just sits in storage somewhere. Some of them end up given to a school, and in those situations the donors give a worthless ATARI with "Pong" that will never be used to a school and then want to take a charity deduction of hundreds of dollars. Old units often end up just thrown away.
After all this, I do finally have a question: What do YOU do with this situation??
I allow up to 80% of the new computer, and if there is residual value in the old computer I will show it disposed. I will not allow more than one "business" computer in the home at any given time.
Comments???
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