Yesterday, President Bush signed a $168 billion rescue package passed with lightning speed by Congress last week which includes not only rebates for individuals but also tax breaks for businesses to spur investment in new plants and equipment.

Elective Expensing (Section 179). In lieu of depreciation, small business taxpayers may elect to expense the cost of qualified assets (property) they purchase in the year when the assets are placed in service, within certain limits. Under section 179, small business taxpayers are allowed to expense $125,000 (indexed for inflation), and the phase-out threshold is $500,000 (indexed for inflation). Currently in 2008, the expensing limit is $128,000 and the phase-out threshold is 510,000. The proposal increases the expensing limit to $250,000 and the phase-out to $800,000 for 2008. The proposal is effective for taxable year 2008. This proposal is estimated to cost $900 million in 2008 and $100 million over ten years.

Bonus Depreciation. Generally a trade or business must recover the cost of property over a predetermined period of years. This proposal will allow a trade or business to depreciate an additional 50 percent of the cost of an asset acquired and placed into service in 2008 in that year. The types of property eligible for bonus depreciation will be the same as those included in the previous depreciation packages: (1) tangible property that had a recovery period not exceeding 20 years; (2) purchased computer software; (3) water utility property; and (4) qualified leasehold improvement property. The bonus depreciation will be allowed under the alternative minimum tax (AMT). The proposal is effective for calendar year 2008 beginning after the date of first Committee action. This proposal is estimated to cost $43.9 billion in 2008 and $7.4 billion over ten years.

What does this mean to you? It's a chance to get a leg up on the year and your own business. Call a Goetze Dental representative today to see how you can take advantage of this break

Original Story at: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/13/national/main3827071.shtml