How Does Tax Depreciation Work for an Office Printer or Copier in Australia? (2026)

Important: This article contains general information only and is not tax, accounting or financial advice. Depreciation outcomes depend on your business circumstances and current ATO rules. Always consult your accountant or registered tax agent and refer to ato.gov.au before making financial decisions.

Current as at July 2026 — The proposed permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off from 1 July 2026 remains before Parliament and is not yet law. Check the latest status via the ATO before relying on this threshold.

The Short Answer

A business-grade multifunction printer (MFP) is a depreciating asset for tax purposes. How you claim it depends primarily on your turnover and the purchase price of the device.

• Businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million may be eligible for the instant asset write-off for qualifying devices below the applicable threshold.
• Devices costing $20,000 or more are generally allocated to the small-business depreciation pool.
• Businesses not using simplified depreciation rules generally claim depreciation over the asset's effective life using the prime cost or diminishing value method.

Many Toshiba multifunction printer configurations fall below the $20,000 threshold, although high-volume or heavily optioned models may exceed it.

Which Path Applies to You?

• Turnover under $10 million and device under $20,000: Eligible businesses may generally claim an instant asset write-off, subject to the rules applicable in the relevant income year.
• Turnover under $10 million and device $20,000 or more: The asset is generally allocated to the simplified depreciation pool and claimed over time.
• Not using simplified depreciation: Depreciate the asset over its effective life using either the prime cost or diminishing value method.

How the Depreciation Methods Work

Prime Cost Method

The prime cost method spreads deductions evenly over the effective life of the asset. If an MFP has an effective life of five years, the deduction is generally around 20% of the asset's cost each year.

Diminishing Value Method

The diminishing value method provides larger deductions in the earlier years and smaller deductions later. This approach may benefit businesses seeking greater short-term cash-flow relief.

Effective Life

The ATO publishes effective life determinations for asset classes and updates them periodically. Office copiers and multifunction printers have historically been assigned an effective life of around five years. Always confirm the current determination for your specific asset.

Worked Example

A business with turnover under $10 million purchases an MFP for $7,000 and first uses it during the 2025–26 financial year. Under the instant asset write-off rules applicable for that year, the business may be able to deduct the full $7,000 immediately.

If the same device costs $24,000, it exceeds the threshold and would generally be added to the small-business depreciation pool. The first-year deduction would typically be 15%, followed by 30% of the remaining pool balance in subsequent years.

Illustration only. Actual deductions depend on eligibility, timing and current legislation.

Timing Matters: Purchases in 2026–27

Devices installed and ready for use by 30 June 2026 may qualify under the legislated 2025–26 instant asset write-off provisions.

For purchases from 1 July 2026, businesses should confirm the status of the proposed permanent $20,000 instant asset write-off before relying on it for purchasing decisions.

If timing materially affects your tax outcome, discuss the planned purchase with your accountant before committing.

What to Check Before You Claim

• Installation date matters: The asset must be installed and ready for use in the relevant financial year.
• Turnover eligibility: The instant asset write-off generally applies to entities with aggregated turnover under $10 million.
• Per-asset threshold: The threshold applies to each eligible asset individually.
• Business-use percentage: Only the business-use proportion is deductible.
• Operating costs are separate: Service agreements, energy costs and consumables are generally treated differently to the hardware purchase itself.

Where Toshiba Fits

Toshiba's popular business MFPs, including the e-STUDIO2525AC, e-STUDIO3025AC, e-STUDIO3525AC and e-STUDIO4525AC, are widely deployed across Australian workplaces.

Depending on configuration, many models fall below the $20,000 threshold for outright purchase, although higher-volume and optioned systems may exceed it.

Businesses may choose between purchasing, leasing or managed print agreements based on operational, tax and cash-flow requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim the full cost of an office printer in the year I buy it?

Eligible small businesses may generally claim the full cost under the instant asset write-off, provided the asset meets the applicable threshold and installation requirements for that income year.

What happens if the printer costs more than $20,000?

It will generally be allocated to the simplified depreciation pool rather than being immediately deducted.

Is leasing treated differently to buying?

Usually yes. Depending on the finance structure, lease payments may be claimed as operating expenses, while purchased assets are typically capitalised and depreciated over time.

What effective life does the ATO use for office copiers and MFPs?

Historically, office multifunction printers have commonly been assigned an effective life of around five years, although businesses should always verify the current determination applicable to their asset.

General Information Only
Toshiba (Australia) Pty Limited does not provide tax, accounting or financial advice. Consult your accountant or registered tax agent and refer to the Australian Taxation Office for current rules and eligibility requirements.