How do you apportion depreciation for a PC with both business and personal use?
By Marc Sevitz · Updated
Could you please tell me how I would calculate an apportionment like this and if I would have to have been keeping records of use for the computer?
You would need to determine a basis of usage, so if you use the computer for work and only occasionily use it for personal purposes then you could write off the entire amount as a business expense. It would be a rough estimation and difficult to prove, but SARS are open to some guesstimation.
Unfortunately the computer sees a little personal use most days. I'm glad to hear that SARS accept estimates, but if I were to guess a percentage--eg. 75% or 80% work use--and say that that was what I'd done in my depreciation calculations, is there a chance they could ask for proof or further supporting documents?
They could ask for proof, which could be demonstrated by the need of a computer for your business and what exactly you do with it, if the majority of time spent is for business use they may accept a 100% write off in which case you would provide the invoice stating the value you used to depreciate.
Thanks, I appreciate the help.
Always a pleasure!