We bought expensive chainsaw that only works for 3 months. too expensive to repair it. should I expensed it (as supplies) or depreciate it?

[ml4tt]

bought a $500 chainsaw for firewood work in late 2017. 3 months later in February 2018 it stopped working. We took it to repair shop, it costs more to repair than  to buy a new one. should I still set the chainsaw as a tool (asset) and depreciate it or do I expense it as supplies? 

[Coleen3 · Accepted solution]

You can expense it.

De Minimis Safe Harbor Election

This election for items $2,500 or less is called the De Minimis Safe Harbor Election. This election is an option you can take each year that lets you write off items $2,500 or less as expenses instead of assets. Expenses typically reduce your income by a larger amount than depreciating an asset over multiple years does. This means you could get a bigger refund.

If you decide to take this option, a form called De Minimis Safe Harbor Election will show up in your tax return. This election will apply to all your businesses, rental properties or farms.

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

• You don't have an applicable financial statement (most people don't).
• You have a consistent process for how you record expenses and assets.
• You record these items as expenses on your books/records.
• The cost of each item as shown on your receipt is $2,500 or les

[ml4tt]

thank you..

[Coleen3]

My pleasure