Question

De Minimis Safe Harbor Election - How to expense the cost of Labor?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
March 25, 2023
1 reply
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I am familiar with the process on how to use the De Minimis Safe Harbor Election for items. My question is how do I expense the cost of the labor?

Ex. I purchased a new water heater that cost $800 and I paid the plumber $200 to install it. I bought the water heater at the store and paid the worker when he was done with the installation. One receipt has the total purchase of the water heater and the 2nd receipt is from the plumber for $200 for the installation. I do understand I can expense the water heater using the De Minimis Safe Harbor but according to the TurboTax help section the De Minimis Safe Harbor election states the following: "This amount doesn't have to include costs like delivery or installation fees, unless these costs are already on the same receipt as the item." Since I have 2 separate receipts how do I expense the cost of the $200 labor that I paid the plumber for the installation?

Thank you,

David

J

JamesG1

You may report the $200 as Repairs, Maintenance, Building Contractor or a similar expense category.

This IRS website states:

Similarly, the de minimis safe harbor doesn't change your ability to deduct repair and maintenance costs that don't qualify under the de minimis safe harbor, for example, costs that exceed the safe harbor threshold. Therefore, for costs that don't qualify under the de minimis safe harbor, you apply the general rules for identifying and deducting repair and maintenance costs, incidental supplies, and non-incidental materials and supplies.

@DA248

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D

DA248Author

Hello James,

Thank you for your response. I might need some clarification that is related to my previous question. To deduct an item as an expense in the same year under $2,500 I can use the De Minimis Safe Harbor Election. And to deduct items in the same year that are over $2,500 I can use the Safe Harbor Election for Small Taxpayer.

The Safe Harbor Election for Small Taxpayers allows me to deduct items or Improvements (such as, repairs, maintenance and improvements) that are over $2,500.

Why does the election allow me to expense items or improvements over $2,500 using the Safe Harbor Election for Small Taxpayers but cannot expense Improvements that are under $2,500?

Ex. If I installed a new fence (Improvement) that cost over $2,500 and I had separate receipts for the material and labor work to build the new fence I can expense the total cost of the fence using the Safe Harbor Election for Small Taxpayers, however, if the fence cost under $2,500 (Improvement) does not allow me to expense it because the De Minimis Safe Harbor Election is used to expense an Item only.

PatriciaV

Employee

The two Safe Harbor Elections are complimentary, in that assets that would normally be depreciated are instead reported as expenses. The De Minimis Safe Harbor covers assets under $2,500 for most businesses. The Safe Harbor for Small Taxpayers covers assets and improvements over that amount, subject to some limitations.

The basis of any asset includes all related costs such as shipping and installation/labor. Combine all your costs for each asset before you apply either Safe Harbor Election.

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