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The Daily Insight

Are leasehold improvements eligible for bonus?

Author

Mia Ramsey

Published Mar 27, 2026

Overall, the changes made to the classification and treatment of qualified leasehold improvement property in recent tax law have simplified application and provided financial benefits for both lessees and lessors in the form of bonus depreciation over a shorter recovery period and potential tax refunds.

Do leasehold improvements qualify for bonus depreciation 2021?

These leasehold improvements can qualify for special accelerated depreciation or expensing under several provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), such as IRC §179 or bonus depreciation under IRC §168(k). …

Are leasehold improvements eligible for bonus depreciation in 2019?

Qualified leasehold improvement property was removed from the definition of qualified property for property placed in service after Dec. 31, 2017. Businesses can still elect, on an annual basis, not to claim bonus depreciation for any class of property placed in service during the tax year.

What is the life of leasehold improvements?

While the useful economic life of most leasehold improvements is five to 15 years, the Internal Revenue Code requires that depreciation for such improvements to occur over the economic life of the building.

Can you take bonus on leasehold improvements 2019?

Are there any leasehold improvements that are eligible for bonus depreciation?

IRS: Certain Leasehold Improvements Acquired In Late 2017 Are Eligible For 100% Bonus Depreciation. Because now, when you look at the prior version of Section 168 (k) governing bonus depreciation, you find that even in 2017, bonus depreciation was allowed on all assets with a life of 20 years or less.

When did leasehold improvements become qualified improvement property?

Under the 2018 version of the law, the bonus percentage increased to 100% effective September 27, 2017, but your asset disappeared, was replaced by qualified improvement property, and no longer has a 15-year life. As a result, no bonus depreciation at all! How do we bridge this gap simply by looking at the statute?

What are the three types of leasehold improvements?

And in that superseded provision, you would have scanned Section 168 (e) and found three types of property that were noticeably absent from the 2018 version of the law: qualified leasehold improvement property, qualified retail improvement property, and qualified restaurant property.

When to claim bonus depreciation on tax return?

Revenue Procedure 2020-25, issued on April 17, 2020, clarifies the process by which taxpayers are able to claim depreciation deductions including 100% “bonus depreciation” for the cost of certain leasehold and other improvements to existing buildings (“qualified improvement property” or “ QIP ”).