Annual election for improvements

[al g]

There is an annual election for improvements that allows expensing rather than depreciation if the cost of all repairs, maintenance, and improvement is the lesser of  2% of the unadjusted basis or $10,000.

My question: if I take this election then do I still enter the improvement as an asset or do I simply enter the improvement as an expense.  How does TurboTax handle it?  

Is there more detailed info on this provision somewhere?

[ColeenD3 · Accepted solution]

By electing this provision, you are deducting it as an expense. You do not enter it as an asset.

Improvements Election

This election is an option you can take each year that lets you write off some building improvements as expenses instead of assets. 

Here are the rules you need to meet to take this election:
 

• Your gross receipts, including all your other income, are $10,000,000 or less.
• Your eligible building has an unadjusted basis of $1,000,000 or less.
• The cost of all repairs, maintenance and improvements is less than or equal to the smallest of these limits: 
• 2% of the unadjusted basis of your building or
• $10,000

This election for building improvements is called the Safe Harbor Election for Small Taxpayers. If you decide to take this option, a form called Safe Harbor Election for Small Taxpayers will show up in your tax return. This election will apply to all your businesses, rental properties or farms.

[deserving]

In order to elect the Safe Harbor for Small Taxpayers (SHST),  wouldn't you need to enter  the improvement in the asset section to make the election so that the form generates?   It seems like it would then be entered in the expense section once the election is made.   Although it seems like the software would automatically calculate as an expense, once the SHST election is made.  Please advise.

[CatinaT1]

You do not enter it as a asset if you are taking the election and expensing the item.

[Rainbeaux]

So, does this mean that I enter the $9,999 roof as a repair instead of an improvement?