Buy the Truck or Wait? The Section 179 Worksheet

The December equipment dilemma

Every landscaping business hits this moment: it’s Q4, the dealer has the truck or mower or trailer you’ve been eyeing, and someone says “buy it before year-end for the write-off.” Sometimes that’s brilliant. Sometimes it’s spending $60,000 to save $15,000 you didn’t need to spend at all.

What Section 179 actually does

Section 179 and bonus depreciation let you deduct the full cost of qualifying equipment in the year you place it in service, instead of spreading it over many years. The key questions are whether the business actually needs the equipment, whether this year’s income makes the deduction worth more now than later, and whether cash or financing terms make sense.

How the worksheet helps

It walks the decision in order — need, income, timing, cash — so the tax tail doesn’t wag the dog. Fill it out before you visit the dealer, not after.

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