Shore Station Sectional Pier---Property Class

[john9-9]

Our small resort business purchased a new Shore Station sectional aluminum pier in 2023. It consists of individual 8 foot sections weighing around 105 lbs that makes it portable. It is installed in Spring and removed for Winter. We are thinking this is 5 or 7 year property for depreciation purposes, but could not find anything pertinent in the IRS Pub 946 instructions Appendix B. It is not a permanent wharf Land Improvement that would make it real property per the IRS. However, we are having difficulty finding any documentation to support our view that it is personal property, and not land improvements. Thanks

[PatriciaV]

According to IRS Pub 946 Appendix B, any property not listed in the tables is given a class life of seven (7) years under GDS. The MACRS tables in Appendix A provide the depreciation method that would apply.

You might also consider taking Special Depreciation, which would allow you to write-off 80% of the cost in the first year.