How Much Does It Cost to Lease a Copy Machine in Australia?
Last updated: May 2026
Quick Answer
Australian copy machines costing under $20,000 ex GST qualify for the 2024 to 2025 instant asset write off, letting eligible small businesses claim the full price up front.
Leasing instead converts that capital outlay into a monthly operating expense, fully deductible as you go and free from the depreciation timeline that applies to higher value purchases.
At a glance
- •Australian copy machines costing under $20,000 ex GST qualify for the 2024 to 2025 instant asset write off, letting eligible small businesses claim the full price up front.
- •Leasing instead converts that capital outlay into a monthly operating expense, fully deductible as you go and free from the depreciation timeline that applies to higher value purchases.
How the $20,000 instant asset write off applies
The Australian Taxation Office sets the instant asset write off threshold at $20,000 for assets first used in the 2024 to 2025 income year by small businesses with turnover under $10 million.
A copy machine purchased outright above that threshold has its deduction stretched across the asset effective life, rather than landing in the year of purchase.
Buying inside the threshold delivers the full deduction immediately, which is why the threshold often dictates copy machine acquisition strategy.
Why leasing is the operating expense path
A leased copy machine is funded by monthly payments classified as an operating expense in most Australian small business accounts.
Operating expenses are typically deductible in the year they are paid, so the cash benefit lands across the contract rather than at one fixed asset registration moment.
The structure removes the capital pressure of a single $20,000 plus invoice and replaces it with a budgeted monthly figure.
When buying outright still makes sense
Buying outright suits stable, high volume operations that keep equipment long term and prefer to absorb maintenance internally.
It also suits buyers who can deploy the full instant asset write off this tax year and have surplus capital sitting idle.
Most SMEs that want predictable monthly cost and bundled service prefer the lease path.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the 2024 to 2025 instant asset write off threshold for copy machines?
- The Australian Taxation Office sets the instant asset write off threshold at $20,000 for assets first used in 2024 to 2025 by small businesses with turnover under $10 million.
- Are copy machine lease payments tax deductible?
- Lease payments are generally classified as an operating expense for Australian small businesses and are typically deductible in the year they are paid. Consult your accountant for advice specific to your situation.
- When does buying a copy machine outright make sense?
- Buying suits stable, high volume operations that keep equipment long term, absorb maintenance internally, and can claim the full instant asset write off in the tax year of purchase.
- Does leasing avoid the asset depreciation timeline?
- Yes. Leasing converts the capital outlay into a monthly operating expense, side stepping the multi year depreciation schedule that applies to outright purchases above the instant asset write off threshold.
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