Source: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-15-82.pdf
Increase in De Minimis Safe Harbor Limit for Taxpayers Without an Applicable Financial
Statement
Notice 2015-82
PURPOSE
This notice provides an increase in the de minimis safe harbor limit provided in
§ 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii)(D) of the Income Tax Regulations for a taxpayer without an
applicable financial statement (“AFS”).
BACKGROUND
On September 17, 2013, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue
Service (“IRS”) issued final regulations under §§ 1.162-3, 1.162-4, 1.263(a)-1, 1.263(a)-
2, and 1.263(a)-3 (T.D. 9636, 2013-43 I.R.B. 331, 78 Fed. Reg. 57686) to provide
guidance on the application of §§ 162(a) and 263(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
(“Code”) to amounts paid to acquire, produce, or improve tangible property (“final
tangible property regulations”). The final tangible property regulations are applicable to
taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2014. Optionally, a taxpayer may
choose to apply the final tangible property regulations to taxable years beginning on or
after January 1, 2012, and before January 1, 2014.
In addition to clarifying the requirements under §§ 162(a) and 263(a), the tangible
property regulations also include several simplifying provisions that are elective and
prospective in application, and are intended to ease taxpayers’ compliance with the
regulations and reduce administrative burden. Section 1.263(a)-1(f), for example,
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provides a de minimis safe harbor election that permits a taxpayer to not capitalize, or
treat as a material or supply, certain amounts paid for tangible property that it acquires
or produces during the taxable year provided the taxpayer meets certain requirements
and the property does not exceed certain dollar limitations. If such requirements are
met, amounts paid for the qualifying property generally may be deducted under § 162,
provided the amount otherwise constitutes an ordinary and necessary business
expense in carrying on a trade or business. See § 1.263(a)-1(f)(3)(iv).
Under § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii)(D), a taxpayer without an AFS (as defined in
§ 1.263(a)-1(f)(4)) may elect to apply the de minimis safe harbor if, in addition to other
requirements, the amount paid for the property subject to the de minimis safe harbor
does not exceed $500 per invoice (or per item as substantiated by the invoice). In
contrast, under § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(i)(D), a taxpayer with an AFS may elect to apply the
de minimis safe harbor if, in addition to other requirements, the amount paid for the
property does not exceed $5,000 and the taxpayer treats the amount paid as an
expense on its AFS in accordance with its written accounting procedures. A larger safe
harbor limitation is reasonable for a taxpayer with an AFS because an AFS provides
independent assurance that the taxpayer’s de minimis policies are consistent with the
requirements of generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and do not
materially distort the taxpayer’s financial statement income.
The de minimis safe harbor provided under § 1.263(a)-1(f) was intended as an
administrative convenience whereby a taxpayer is permitted to deduct small dollar
expenditures for the acquisition or production of new property or for the improvement of - 3 –
existing property, which otherwise must be capitalized under § 263(a). The de minimis
safe harbor does not limit a taxpayer’s ability to deduct otherwise deductible repair or
maintenance costs that exceed the amount subject to the safe harbor. The safe harbor
merely establishes a minimum threshold below which all qualifying amounts are
considered deductible. Consistent with longstanding federal income tax rules, a
taxpayer may continue to deduct all otherwise deductible repair or maintenance costs,
regardless of amount.
After the final tangible property regulations were issued, the Treasury
Department and the IRS received numerous letters from representatives of small
business taxpayers requesting that the Treasury Department and the IRS increase the
de minimis safe harbor limit for taxpayers that do not have an AFS. In Rev. Proc. 2015-
20, 2015-9 I.R.B. 694, the Treasury Department and the IRS formally requested
comments on whether it is appropriate to increase the de minimis safe harbor limit
provided in § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii)(D) for a taxpayer without an AFS to an amount greater
than $500, and, if so, what amount should be used and the justification for considering
that amount appropriate.
DISCUSSION
The Treasury Department and the IRS received more than 150 comment letters
suggesting an increase in the amount of the de minimis safe harbor limit for taxpayers
without an AFS. The suggested increased amount ranged from $750 to $100,000.
Generally, commenters wrote that the $500 limitation was too low to effectively reduce
the administrative burden of complying with the capitalization requirement for small - 4 –
business taxpayers that frequently purchase tangible property in their trades and
businesses. Commenters noted that the cost of many commonly expensed items (for
example, tablet-style personal computers, smart phones, and machinery and equipment
parts) typically surpass the current $500 per item or invoice threshold provided in
§ 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii)(D). Commenters also stated that the $500 threshold does not
correspond to the financial accounting policies of many small businesses, which
frequently permit the deduction of amounts in excess of $500 as immaterial.
Commenters noted that without an increase in the de minimis safe harbor limit for
taxpayers without an AFS, a capitalization threshold in excess of $500 can only be
substantiated by establishing that a taxpayer’s policy results in the clear reflection of
income for federal income tax purposes, resulting in additional burden and uncertainty
for taxpayers. Finally, many commenters expressed concern regarding the disparate
treatment of taxpayers with an AFS compared to those without an AFS under the safe
harbor requirements, stating that obtaining an AFS is cost prohibitive for many small
businesses and does not adequately justify the substantially lower de minimis ceiling for
these taxpayers.
Section 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii)(D) permits the IRS to change the safe harbor limit to
an amount identified in published guidance in the Federal Register or in the Internal
Revenue Bulletin (see § 601.601(d)(2)(ii)(b)).
Having considered taxpayers’ comments, the goal of the final tangible property
regulations to reduce administrative burden, and the concern that taxpayers’ methods of
accounting clearly reflect income, the § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii)(D) de minimis safe harbor - 5 –
limitation for a taxpayer without an AFS is increased from $500 to $2,500.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Notice is effective for costs incurred during taxable years beginning on or
after January 1, 2016.
AUDIT PROTECTION
For taxable years beginning before January 1, 2016, the IRS will not raise upon
examination the issue of whether a taxpayer without an AFS can utilize the de minimis
safe harbor provided in § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii) for an amount not to exceed $2,500 per
invoice (or per item as substantiated by invoice) if the taxpayer otherwise satisfies the
requirements of § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii). Moreover, if the taxpayer’s use of the de minimis
safe harbor provided in § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii) is an issue under consideration in
examination, appeals, or before the U.S. Tax Court in a taxable year that begins after
December 31, 2011, and ends before January 1, 2016, the issue relates to the
qualification under the safe harbor of an amount (or amounts) that does not exceed
$2,500 per invoice (or per item as substantiated by invoice), and the taxpayer otherwise
satisfies the requirements of § 1.263(a)-1(f)(1)(ii), then the IRS will not further pursue
the issue.
CONTACT INFORMATION
The principal author of this notice is Christine Merson of the Office of Associate
Chief Counsel (Income Tax and Accounting). For further information regarding this
notice, contact Ms. Merson at (202) 317-5100 (not a toll-free number).
