Depreciation Claims
Depreciation and Building Write-off Checklist
The following checklist can be used as a guide for claiming depreciation for residential rental property assets.
The checklist represents the ATO’s current views on which assets can be depreciated under
Division 40 (Fixtures & Fittings) and which assets may be eligible for the building write-off under Division 43 (building).
It also provides the effective life of those assets which may be depreciated.
The following is an explanation of the key terms used in the checklist:
- Fixed – means annexed or attached by any means (e.g., screws, nails, bolts, glue, adhesive, grout, cement, etc.) but not merely for temporary stability.
- Freestanding – means items designed to be portable or movable (e.g., furniture). Any attachment to the building is only for the item’s temporary stability.
- Other than freestanding – means items fixed to the premises that are not designed to be portable or movable. The test is not whether the item is removable, even if the attachment is slight, but whether the inherent design and function of the item is such that it is intended to remain in place for a substantial period of time.
- Division 43 – indicates that a building write-off deduction may be available (generally at the rate of 2.5%).
Rental Property Depreciation Items
| Description | Div 40 | Div 43 | Effective Life Years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Assets | ||||
| Bathroom accessories (freestanding) – soap holders, toilet brushes, shower caddies, etc. | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Bathroom accessories (fixed) – towel rails, toilet roll holders, soap holders, etc. | ✓ | |||
| Bathroom fixtures – baths, wash basins and vanity units, tap ware, toilets, bidets, etc. | ✓ | |||
| Exhaust fans (including heater/fan/light units) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Curtains (excluding curtain rods and screens) | ✓ | 2 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Doors, rods, screens and trays | ✓ | |||
| Spa baths: | ||||
| Pumps only | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Spa | ✓ | |||
| Tiles | ✓ | |||
| Bedroom Assets | ||||
| Linen | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Furniture (freestanding) | ✓ | 13⅓ | 1/01/2001 | |
| Kitchen Assets | ||||
| Cooktops | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Crockery and cutlery | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Dishwashers | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Freezers | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Garbage disposal units | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Hot plates | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Kitchen fit-out – (including cupboards, bench tops, | ✓ | |||
| sinks, tapware, tiles) | ||||
| Microwave ovens | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Ovens and stoves | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Range hoods | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Refrigerators | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Water filters: | ||||
| Electrically operated units | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Other plumbed-in units | ✓ | |||
| Laundry Assets | ||||
| Clothes chutes | ✓ | |||
| Clothes dryers | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Irons | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Ironing boards: | ||||
| Freestanding | ✓ | 7 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Other than freestanding (e.g., built-in) | ✓ | |||
| Laundry fit-out – tubs, tap ware, tiles, etc. | ✓ | |||
| Washing machines | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Lounge/Family/Living Room Assets | ||||
| Digital video display (DVD) players | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Furniture (freestanding) | ✓ | 13⅓ | 1/01/2001 | |
| Radios | ✓ | 10 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Stereo systems (incorporating amplifiers, cassette players, compact disc players, radios and speakers) | ✓ | 7 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Surround sound systems (incorporating audio, video receivers and speakers) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Television sets | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Video cassette recorder (VCR) systems | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| General Indoor Assets | ||||
| Air-conditioning assets (excluding pipes, duct work and vents): | ||||
| Air handlings units | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Cooling towers | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Condensing sets | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Chillers: | ||||
| ♦ Absorption | ✓ | 25 | 1/07/2003 | |
| ♦ Centrifugal | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2003 | |
| ♦ Volumetrics (including reciprocating, rotary, screw, scroll): | ||||
| – Air-cooled | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2003 | |
| – Water-cooled | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Damper motors (including variable air volume box controller) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Fan coil units (connected to a condensing set) | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Mini-split system up to 20 KW (including ceiling, floor and high wall split system) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Packaged air conditioning units | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Pumps | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Room units | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2003 | |
| Pipes, ductwork and vents | ✓ | |||
| Alarms – refer to ‘Fire control assets’ and ‘Security and monitoring assets’ | ||||
| Blinds – refer to ‘Window furnishings and fittings’ | ||||
| Bookcases: | ||||
| Freestanding or easily re-positioned | ||||
| – Timber | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2005 | |
| – Metal | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2005 | |
| Other than freestanding | ✓ | |||
| Cabinets: | ||||
| Freestanding | ||||
| – Timber/Laminated | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2005 | |
| – Metal | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2005 | |
| Other than freestanding | ✓ | |||
| Ceiling fans | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Clocks (electric) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Door closers (e.g., automatic hydraulic closers) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Door handles | ✓ | |||
| Door locks and latches: | ||||
| Electronic code pads | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Other | ✓ | |||
| Door stops: | ||||
| Portable/loose units (freestanding) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Attached/fixed to the building | ✓ | |||
| Electrical assets (includes distribution boards, switchboards, switches, power points, safety switches, wiring, conduits, etc.) | ✓ | |||
| Escalators (machinery and moving parts) | ✓ | 20 | 1/01/2003 | |
| Evaporative coolers: | ||||
| Fixed (excluding ducting and vents) | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2005 | |
| Portable | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2005 | |
| Ducting and vents | ✓ | |||
| Facade – fixed | ✓ | |||
| Fire control assets: | ||||
| Alarms – heat and smoke alarms | ✓ | 6 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Detection and alarm systems: | ||||
| ♦ Alarm bells | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Cabling and reticulation | ✓ | |||
| ♦ Detectors (including addressable manual call points, heat, multi-type and smoke detectors) | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Fire indicator panels | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Manual call points (non-addressable) | ✓ | |||
| Doors – fire and separation doors | ✓ | |||
| Emergency warning intercommunication systems (EWIS): | ||||
| ♦ Master emergency control panels | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Speakers | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Strobe lights | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Warden intercom phones | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Exit/emergency lights | ✓ | |||
| Fire extinguishers | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Fire sprinkler systems: | ||||
| ♦ Excluding pumps | ✓ | |||
| Pumps (including diesel and electric) | ✓ | 25 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Fire hose cabinets | ✓ | |||
| Fire hose/reels: | ||||
| ♦ Hoses and nozzles | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Reels | ✓ | |||
| Hydrant boosters (excluding pumps) | ✓ | |||
| Hydrants | ✓ | |||
| Stair pressurisation assets: | ||||
| ♦ AC variable speed drives | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Pressurisation and extraction fans | ✓ | 25 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ Sensors | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Water piping | ✓ | |||
| Water tanks | ✓ | |||
| Floor coverings (fixed) – including tiles, cork, parquetry, linoleum and vinyl | ✓ | |||
| Floor coverings (removable without damage): | ||||
| Carpet | ✓ | 10 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Floating timber | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Linoleum | ✓ | 10 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Vinyl | ✓ | 10 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Furniture (freestanding) | ✓ | 13⅓ | 1/01/2001 | |
| Garbage bins (not owned by council) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Garbage chutes | ✓ | |||
| Garbage compacting systems (excludes chutes) | ✓ | 6⅔ | 1/01/2001 | |
| Generators | ✓ | 20 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Grease traps | ✓ | |||
| Gym assets: | ||||
| Cardiovascular | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Resistance | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Hand dryers, electrical | ✓ | 10 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Handrails | ✓ | |||
| Heaters (fixed): | ||||
| Ducts, pipes, vents and wiring | ✓ | |||
| Electric heaters | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Fireplaces (including wood heaters) | ✓ | |||
| Gas heaters: | ||||
| ♦ ducted central heating units | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ other | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Heaters (freestanding) | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Hooks (for robes) | ✓ | |||
| Hot water systems (excluding piping): | ||||
| Electric and gas | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Solar | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Hot water system piping | ✓ | |||
| Insulation | ✓ | |||
| Intercom system assets | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Lifts (including hydraulic and traction lifts) | ✓ | 30 | 1/01/2003 | |
| Lift wells | ✓ | |||
| Lights and light fittings: | ||||
| Light fittings (hardwired) | ✓ | |||
| Light fittings (non-hardwired) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Freestanding | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Removable shades | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Linen | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Master antenna television (MATV) assets: | ||||
| Amplifiers | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Modulators | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Power sources | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Master antenna television (MATV) assets (excluding amplifiers, modulators and power sources) | ✓ | |||
| Mirrors: | ||||
| Fixed (e.g., glued/screwed to walls) | ✓ | |||
| Freestanding (e.g., hung on hooks) | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Ramps (e.g., wheelchair ramps) | ✓ | |||
| Rugs | ✓ | 7 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Safes – fixed | ✓ | |||
| Sanitary fixtures – fixed (including soap dispensers) | ✓ | |||
| Satellite dishes | ✓ | |||
| Screens | ✓ | |||
| Security and monitoring assets: | ||||
| Access control systems: | ||||
| ♦ code pads | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ door controllers | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ proximity readers | ✓ | 7 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ swipe card readers | ✓ | 3 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Closed-circuit television systems: | ||||
| ♦ cameras | ✓ | 4 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ monitors | ✓ | 4 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ recorders: | ||||
| – digital | ✓ | 4 | 1/07/2004 | |
| – time lapse | ✓ | 2 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Switching units (including multiplexes) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Security alarm systems: | ||||
| ♦ code pads | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ control panels | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ detectors (including passive infrared, photo sensors and vibration) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ noise makers (e.g., bells and sirens) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ global system for mobiles (GSM) units | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Security doors/screens – metal or mesh | ✓ | |||
| Shelving (other than freestanding) | ✓ | |||
| Shutters | ✓ | |||
| Signs (fixed) – e.g., street numbers | ✓ | |||
| Skylights | ✓ | |||
| Solar-powered generating system assets | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Telecommunications assets: | ||||
| Telephone handsets | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Cordless phones | ✓ | 4 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Telephone installation | ✓ | |||
| Distribution frames | ✓ | |||
| PABX computerised systems | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Television antennas: | ||||
| Fixed | ✓ | |||
| Freestanding (including portable) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Vacuum cleaners: | ||||
| Ducted units: | ||||
| ♦ motors | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ wands | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ hoses | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ ducting, pipes and vents | ✓ | |||
| Portable | ✓ | 10 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Ventilation assets: | ||||
| Fans | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Other (e.g., vents, ducting and whirly birds) | ✓ | |||
| Water pumps | ✓ | 20 | 1/01/2001 | |
| Water tanks | ✓ | |||
| Window furnishings and fittings: | ||||
| Awnings (fixed to structure or part of the building) – metal, fabric, roller or other | ✓ | |||
| Fixed brackets, tracks and pelmets | ✓ | |||
| Internal blinds (e.g., Venetian, roman, roller and vertical blinds) | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Curtains | ✓ | 6 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Insect screens | ✓ | |||
| Window louvres | ✓ | |||
| Window shutters (manual) | ✓ | |||
| Window shutters (automatic): | ||||
| ♦ motors | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ controls | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ excluding motors and controls | ✓ | |||
| Outdoor Areas | ||||
| Barbecues: | ||||
| Freestanding (e.g., portable) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Fixed (e.g., built-in) | ✓ | |||
| ♦ sliding trays and cookers | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Boat sheds | ✓ | |||
| Bollards – fixed | ✓ | |||
| Car parks (sealed) | ✓ | |||
| Carports | ✓ | |||
| Clotheslines (including foldaway designs) | ✓ | |||
| Driveways (sealed) | ✓ | |||
| Fences | ✓ | |||
| Floor carpet (including artificial grass and matting) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Furniture – outdoor (freestanding) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Furniture – outdoor (other than freestanding) | ✓ | |||
| Garage doors: | ||||
| Manually operated | ✓ | |||
| Automatic/motorised: | ||||
| ♦ door only | ✓ | |||
| ♦ motors | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ controls | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Garden awnings/shade structures (fixed) | ✓ | |||
| Garden lights: | ||||
| Fixed | ✓ | |||
| Solar | ✓ | 8 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Garden sheds: | ||||
| Freestanding (e.g., portable) | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Other than freestanding | ✓ | |||
| Garden watering installations (systems): | ||||
| Control panels | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Pumps | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Timing devices | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Excluding control panels, pumps, timing devices | ✓ | |||
| Gates: | ||||
| Electrically operated | ||||
| ♦ motors | ✓ | 10 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ controls | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Other | ✓ | |||
| Gutters and downpipes | ✓ | |||
| Jetties (including boat sheds and pontoons) | ✓ | |||
| Landscaping | No | No | ||
| Letter boxes – in-wall/fence or free standing | ✓ | |||
| Operable pergola louvres: | ||||
| Manual | ✓ | |||
| Electrically operated | ||||
| ♦ controls | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ motors | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ pergola structure | ✓ | |||
| Paths | ✓ | |||
| Pipes/pipelines | ✓ | |||
| Retaining walls | ✓ | |||
| Saunas (excluding heating assets) | ✓ | |||
| Sauna heating assets | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Screens – fixed (including glass screens) | ✓ | |||
| Septic Tanks | ✓ | |||
| Sewerage treatment assets | ✓ | |||
| Controls and motors | ✓ | 8 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Spas: | ||||
| Freestanding spa units (including pumps, filters, heaters, controls and blowers) | ✓ | 17 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Other than freestanding (i.e., fixed): | ||||
| ♦ spa (including lights) | ✓ | |||
| ♦ heaters (electric or gas) | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ chlorinators | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ filtration (including pumps) | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Swimming pool assets: | ||||
| Swimming pool, pool fencing, pool lights | ✓ | |||
| Pool furniture (freestanding) | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Cleaning equipment | ✓ | 7 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Chlorinators | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Filtration (including pumps) | ✓ | 12 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Heaters: | ||||
| ♦ electric | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ gas | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| ♦ solar | ✓ | 20 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Tennis courts (including fences, lights, posts and surfaces) | ✓ | |||
| Tennis court assets: | ||||
| Nets | ✓ | 5 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Umpire chairs | ✓ | 15 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Court rollers | ✓ | 3 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Court cleaners | ✓ | 3 | 1/07/2004 | |
| Drag brooms | ✓ | 3 | 1/07/2004 | |
