Small Business Asset Write-Off & Depreciation Tracker (Australia) | Excel

Enter an asset once and the tracker tells you if you can write it off in full this year or if it goes into the small business pool. It then works out your depreciation deduction for each of the next 5 years, plus the figures for your tax return.

What it works out for you

• Write-off or pool, for every asset. Assets costing less than $20,000 are written off in full. Anything costing $20,000 or more goes into the small business pool. The $20,000 limit is law for 2025-26 and became permanent from 1 July 2026 (Treasury Laws Amendment (Tax Reform No. 2) Act 2026).
• The GST trap, handled. If you're registered for GST, cost excludes the GST credit you can claim. A $21,450 oven (incl. GST) costs you $19,500 for tax, so it is written off. If you're not registered, the same oven goes into the pool. The tracker applies the right test from your Setup answer.
• Private use. You deduct only the business share. The $20,000 test still uses the whole cost, as the ATO requires.
• Cars. Cost is capped at the car limit ($69,883 for 2026-27). The GST credit is capped at one-eleventh of the limit.
• The pool, year by year. 15% on assets in the year you add them, 30% on the opening balance, and the low pool balance write-off when the pool falls under $20,000.
• Selling, scrapping or insurance payouts. For a pooled asset, the business share of what you get comes off the pool, and any amount that takes the pool below zero becomes assessable income. For an asset you wrote off, the business share is assessable income.
• Tax Return Summary. Choose a year and get the deduction for certain assets (label A), the pool deduction (label B), any assessable amounts and your closing pool balance to carry forward.

What's inside

Home page with quick start · Dashboard with charts · Setup · Asset Register (up to 50 assets) · 5-Year Schedule · Tax Return Summary · Rules & Rates (every threshold with its legal source and status) · Checks · Notes & Sources · Guide. Example business included: type over it.

Who it's for: Australian sole traders, partnerships, trusts and companies with aggregated turnover under $10 million that use the simplified depreciation rules.

Not covered: improvements to existing assets, changes in business use after the first year, roll-overs and restructures, and general depreciation for excluded assets such as buildings.

Built and checked by a CPA. Every formula tested against a separate calculation.

Every rule was checked on ato.gov.au and legislation.gov.au on 23 Oct 2026. Sources are listed inside the file.

Works in Microsoft Excel (desktop and web). Instant download.

Designed by Plain Numbers Co with the help of AI tools. Listing images are designed previews of the actual file.

30-DAY MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE: if it doesn't work for your situation, message us within 30 days. We'll fix it, or refund you in full if you'd rather. This is in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law, which are not excluded.

General information only, not tax, financial or legal advice. It does not take your personal circumstances into account. Check results with a registered tax agent before you lodge.