Skip to content
Supplying Australian businesses since 2010
5.0 on Google from 150+ reviews
Lease or buy a printer after the instant asset write off
The $20,000 write off is now permanent, so here is what it changes for an office printer and what it leaves the same.
General information for Australian small businesses, not tax advice.
Does the write off make buying better than leasing?
Not necessarily, because the write off only brings the tax deduction forward for a printer you buy, while a lease spreads both the cost and the deduction.
Buy the printer, and an eligible small business can generally claim the whole cost in the year the machine is first used.
Lease the printer, and you generally claim each payment as an operating expense as you make it.
So the rule changes when you claim the cost, not whether you can claim it.
The better path depends on your cash, your running costs and how long you keep equipment.
When the claim lands
Buy outrightOne claim
LeaseClaimed as paid
What the ATO rule says in 2026
These points come from the ATO’s own pages, checked on 11 October 2026.
-
The limit$20,000 per asset
Each asset must cost less than $20,000
The limit applies to each asset, so several eligible assets can each be claimed.
An asset that costs $20,000 or more goes into the small business pool and is deducted over time instead.
-
WhoTurnover under $10 million
It is for small businesses
Your business needs an aggregated annual turnover of less than $10 million.
You also need to be using the ATO’s simplified depreciation rules.
-
WhenFirst used or installed
You claim it in the year the asset starts work
The deduction belongs to the income year the asset was first used, or installed ready for use.
-
How longPermanent from 1 July 2026
The limit is no longer temporary
The ATO announced on 4 September 2026 that the $20,000 limit is permanent from 1 July 2026.
-
OwnershipThe holder claims
Only the holder of an asset can claim it
The ATO says only the holder of a depreciating asset can claim its decline in value, and in most cases the holder is the legal owner.
A printer you lease is not yours, so you generally claim the lease payments instead of a write off.
Sources: the ATO pages on the instant asset write off, the permanent $20,000 limit, who can claim a depreciating asset and deductions for operating expenses.
What the write off does not change
A faster deduction is useful, but four things stay exactly as they were.
-
The money still leaves on day one
To claim the write off you first pay for the machine in full.
A lease spreads that cost across 36, 48 or 60 months.
-
A deduction is not a refund
A deduction lowers the income you pay tax on.
It does not hand the purchase price back to you.
-
Toner, parts and repairs stay with the owner
The write off covers the machine itself.
Every cartridge, part and repair after that is a separate bill to arrange and pay.
-
The machine still ages
A printer you own is yours to keep running, sell or dispose of when it wears out.
A leased machine can be swapped for a current model when the term ends.
Which path fits your office?
Neither path is right for every business.
Buying usually fits when
- You print very little and one small machine will do for years
- The machine costs less than $20,000 and your business is eligible for the write off
- You have the cash and would rather own the asset
- You are happy to buy toner and arrange repairs yourself
Leasing usually fits when
- Your office stops when the printer does
- You want toner, parts, technician labour and call outs inside one monthly figure
- You would rather keep cash for wages, stock and rent
- The machine you need costs $20,000 or more, or your turnover is $10 million or more
- You want to move to a current machine when the term ends
We will say so when buying is the better call for your office.
Our lease or buy guide compares the two paths cost by cost.
What a GDS lease puts in one figure
If leasing looks like the better path, here is what the monthly figure covers.
The machine, toner, replacement parts, technician labour and call outs all sit inside it, within the monthly page volume written into your agreement.
Paper is yours to buy, and any pages beyond that allowance are billed at the per page rate printed on your quote.
Terms run 36, 48 or 60 months, and nothing renews by itself.
The printer lease calculator gives you a monthly figure to set beside a purchase price.
What sits inside the figure
- The machine
- Toner
- Parts
- Labour
- Call outs
Three steps from here
Tax is one input, so settle it first and then compare real numbers.
Already paying for a lease?
We can check your current invoice against ours, line by line.
If you are already on the better deal, you will hear that from us.
-
Ask your accountant whether your business is eligible for the write off, and what a deduction this year is worth to you.
-
Put a purchase price beside a lease figure, with toner and servicing counted on both sides.
-
Ask us for one written figure that shows your allowance, the per page rate beyond it and the term.
5.0 on Google, from 150+ reviews
Here are two Google reviews, shown exactly as each customer wrote them.
Cyrus and his Team amazing.
Printer installed next day.
Training provided by great team.
Highly recommend Global Document Solutions as they worked to tailor a perfect solution for our business.
Our Printer was installed quickly and our old one taken away …could not be happier with the service …we have been with Global Document Solutions for over 10 years …
Questions about tax and printer leasing
Can I claim the instant asset write off on a leased printer?
Generally no, because the write off is for an asset your business holds.
With a lease you generally claim the payments as an operating expense instead.
Are printer lease payments tax deductible?
Lease payments are generally treated as a deductible business operating expense.
Your accountant should confirm how that applies to your business.
Does the write off make buying cheaper than leasing?
Not by itself, because it changes the timing of a deduction and not the price of the machine.
A full comparison also counts toner, parts, repairs and the cash you tie up.
What if the printer costs $20,000 or more?
It does not qualify for the instant write off.
The ATO says an asset at or above the limit goes into the small business pool and is deducted over time.
Is the $20,000 limit measured with or without GST?
If you are registered for GST and can claim the full credit, the ATO says to leave the GST out when you work out what the asset cost.
If you are not registered for GST, the GST counts towards the cost.
Does a second hand printer qualify?
The ATO says new and second hand assets are generally eligible, subject to its exclusions and limits.
How long is a GDS lease, and what happens at the end?
You choose a term of 36, 48 or 60 months.
Nothing renews automatically, and the agreement carries on month to month until you upgrade, keep the machine or return it.
See the lease figure before you decide
Give us a rough monthly page count and we reply with a single written figure.
Take it to your accountant with the purchase price, and choose with both numbers in front of you.
This page is general information only and is not tax advice, so ask a registered tax agent about your own position.
Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law.