Bonus Depreciation Reinstatement Tax Benefit will Help Small Businesses

 

Association of Equipment Manufacturers extensively promoted bonus-depreciation adoption (tax benefit) by Congress in 2008 and previously supported a 2010 extension. The two equipment associations produced an informational booklet in 2008 to assist companies to use the provision.

Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) urged Congress to reinstate the 50-percent bonus depreciation, a tax provision that helped equipment manufacturers last year during painful economic times. AEM said the bonus depreciation was especially valuable to smaller companies as an effective economic stimulus tool, helping them stay in business and provide jobs.

The bonus depreciation provision allows businesses to deduct 50 percent of the cost of new equipment in the year it is placed in service. The provision was included in the Economic Stimulus Act in early 2008 and extended to 2009 by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Given the sluggish pace of the economic recovery, AEM strongly encourages Congress to use this proven, effective, pro-growth policy and extend the bonus depreciation benefits for small businesses,” said AEM President Dennis Slater.

Slater noted that the equipment industry has been hard hit by the economic downturn, shedding 37 percent of its workforce and experiencing sales declines of 50 percent between January 2007 and September 2009. Many landscape firms could benefit from this provision and also be a stimulus to purchase new equipment.

“We are deeply concerned with any matter impacting the small business community,” Slater said and voiced AEM support of the Associated Equipment Distributors’ hearing statement as well.

– Courtesy of AEM