Introduction

This publication explains how you can recover the cost of business or income-producing property through deductions for depreciation. It also explains how you can elect to take a section 179 deduction, instead of depreciation deductions, for certain property and the additional rules for "listed property." In addition, the publication describes how to figure depreciation and how to fill out Form 4562, Depreciation and Amortization.

The depreciation methods discussed in this publication do not generally apply to property placed in service before 1987. If you want information about depreciating such property, see Publication 534.

Definitions. Many of the terms used in this publication are defined in the Glossary near the end of the publication.

Do you need a different publication? The following table shows where you can get more detailed information when depreciating certain types of property.

Comments and suggestions. We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.

You can e-mail us while visiting our web site at
www.irs.gov.

You can write to us at the following address:

Internal Revenue Service
Technical Publications Branch
W:CAR:MP:FP:P
1111 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20224

We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number, including the area code, in your correspondence.

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