The instant asset write-off is now permanent. What equipment sellers should change

For years, the instant asset write-off came with a deadline, and equipment suppliers planned around it. Every May and June, buyers rushed to get assets in and working before 30 June, in case the threshold dropped back. That deadline has gone. The twenty thousand dollar write-off is now permanent, and it's worth rethinking how you sell because of it.

What changed

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Act 2026 became law on 26 August 2026. From 1 July 2026, small businesses with an aggregated turnover under ten million dollars can immediately deduct the full cost of each eligible asset costing less than twenty thousand dollars, with no end date.

A few details matter:

• It's per asset. A business can write off several assets, each under the threshold.
• Timing is when it's used. The asset has to be first used, or installed ready for use, on or after 1 July 2026.
• Bigger assets still have a path. Assets costing twenty thousand dollars or more can go into the small business pool and be depreciated at 15% in the first year and 30% each year after.

I'm not giving tax advice, and neither should your sales team. Whether a particular purchase qualifies is a question for the buyer's accountant.

What it means for selling equipment

The June rush won't be what it was. When buyers knew the threshold might drop, there was a reason to buy before 30 June. With the write-off permanent, there's no deadline to beat. Some of that end-of-year buying will spread across the year. If your marketing calendar was built around an end-of-financial-year push, it's worth spreading your effort too.

You can say it all year. Where it's relevant, a short line on a product page or a quote can help a buyer: something like "Eligible small businesses may be able to claim the instant asset write-off. Check with your accountant." Keep it general and accurate. Don't promise anyone a deduction.

Price points under the threshold matter. For items that sit near twenty thousand dollars, buyers will notice which side of the line a model falls on. Make it easy to see the price of each model, and the configuration that fits under it, without a phone call.

Follow-up matters more than urgency. Without a deadline doing the work, a quote that goes quiet stays quiet unless someone follows it up. I've written about what unfollowed quotes cost.

A good time to talk to your customers

A change like this is a genuine reason to get in touch with past customers and people you've quoted. Send a short, plain note explaining what's changed, without a hard sell, and you'll be useful to them and on their mind when they next need something. For most industrial suppliers, staying in touch with the people who already know you is some of the best marketing there is.