Irene2805
Expert Alumni

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

If any of the improvements are $2,500 or less you can elect to expense them using the De Minimis election.  Improvements more than $2,500 should be assets and depreciated over time.  The following instructions are for TurboTax Home & Business.  If you'd like step by step instructions for TurboTax Self-Employed, please respond back in this thread.

 

 

Part 1.  Make the De Minimis election

  1. Click on the Business tab > Continue > I'll choose what to work on  [Online:  Serlf-Employment > Self em
  2. In the Business Income and Expenses section, click the Start/Update button.  
  3. If you have already started adding information about your business, you will see the Here's the business info we have so far screenClick on Edit next to your business.
  4. If you haven't already started adding information about the property, continue through the screens to enter the needed information.
  5. You will now be on the Your [business name] Business screen.  
  6. In the Business Assets section, click on the Start/Update box.
  7. When you come to the screen, Did you buy any items that each cost $2,500 or less in 2019? mark the Yes button and click Continue
  8. On the screen Let's see if you qualify to deduct these items as expenses, mark both of the Yes buttons and click Continue
  9. On the screen Now, let's review each item you bought -- If you mark that every item cost $2,500 or less, you will be asked if you want to claim the improvements as expenses.  Select the No button since you're claiming them under the de minimis election.  You will be brought to the Business Summary screenProceed with Step 2, below. 
  10. If you mark that some cost above $2,500, proceed through the screens and answer Yes on the screen Do you have any items that aren't covered by your elections?  Proceed through the screens to enter these assets. 

Step 2.  Enter your election-related items as other expenses.

  1. On the Your [XX] Business Summary screen go to the Business Expenses section and click on the Start/Update box next to Other Common Business Expenses
  2. On the next screen, Let's write off some business expenses, scroll down to Other Miscellaneous Expenses screen and click on the Start/Update box.  On the screen Any Miscellaneous Expenses? enter the description and amount paid for the assets. Click Continue when finished.