Printer Lease Deduction or Depreciation, and Which You Get
Last updated: September 2026
Lease payments are generally deductible as they are incurred, while a purchased printer is generally depreciated across its effective life.
Both give a deduction.
They differ in timing and shape, not in whether you get one.
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On a lease, the deduction arrives in even instalments as the payments are made, matching the cash going out.
On a purchase, the cost is generally written down across the asset’s effective life, or immediately where an instant asset write off applies in that year.
Neither gives you more deduction in total. They distribute it differently across the years.
Which shape suits which year
A business with a strong year and capital available may prefer the larger, earlier deduction of a purchase.
A business managing cash, or one that expects its income to be steady rather than lumpy, usually finds the even spread of a lease easier to plan around.
A newly formed business often has neither the capital nor the taxable income to make a large early deduction useful.
Complications to watch for
A finance lease or a chattel mortgage is treated differently again. Part of the payment may be interest rather than a rental deduction.
The label on the paperwork does not always match the tax treatment, which is why the arrangement should be shown to an accountant rather than described to them.
Business structure matters as well, and the sole trader, company or trust page covers that.
This page is general information about how these arrangements are commonly treated in Australia. It is not tax advice. Your structure, your finance arrangement and the year all change the answer, so confirm your own position with your accountant.
Common questions
Are printer lease payments tax deductible in Australia?
Lease payments are generally deductible as they are incurred, where the equipment is used for business purposes.
The treatment depends on the finance structure and your circumstances, so confirm your position with your accountant.
Is leasing a better tax outcome than buying?
Neither gives more deduction in total.
Leasing spreads it evenly across the term, while buying concentrates it earlier through depreciation or an immediate write off where one applies.
Which suits you depends on your cash and your taxable income.
How long is a printer depreciated over if I buy it?
It is generally written down across the asset’s effective life under the depreciation rules, unless an instant asset write off applies in that year.
The applicable life and method depend on the rules in force and your circumstances.
Does a finance lease work the same way as an operating lease?
No.
On a finance lease or a chattel mortgage, part of the payment may be treated as interest rather than a rental deduction, and the asset may sit on your books.
Show the actual agreement to your accountant rather than relying on its label.