I purchased a computer to support my job-related activities. As an employee, can I write-off the entire allowed cost or will I have to depreciate it over a few years?
You can claim a section 179 deduction or a depreciation deduction for a computer that you use in your work as an employee if its use is: • For the convenience of your employer, and • Required as a condition of your employment. Use Form 4562 (PDF), Depreciation and Amortization, to compute the section 179 deduction and the depreciation. The entire acquisition cost of a computer purchased for business use can be expensed under Code section 179 in the first year if qualified, or depreciated over a 5-year recovery period. Under section 179, you can elect to recover all or part of the cost of certain qualifying property, up to a dollar limit, by deducting it in the year you place the property in service. The dollar limit varies depending on the year you are making the election. You can find the dollar limitation in Chapter 2, Electing the Section 179 Deduction, of Publication 946, How to Depreciate Property. You can elect to expense the cost of qualifying property instead of recovering the
