Most business owners in the Northern Territory know the instant asset write-off exists. They know the deadline is June 30. And most of them assume they’ve either already claimed everything they can, or that it’s too late to act.
Both assumptions are usually wrong.
The Australian Government’s instant asset write-off lets small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets costing less than $20,000 each. Furniture, technology, printers, business machines. Items that would normally sit on a depreciation schedule for years can be claimed in full this financial year, provided they’re purchased and operational before June 30.
That’s useful, but it’s not the part most people get wrong.
The $20,000 Threshold Is Per Item, Not a Total Cap
This is where the misconception costs businesses money. The $20,000 threshold applies to each individual asset, not to total spending. There is no cap on how many qualifying items a business can claim.
Five office chairs at $800 each? Every one of them may qualify individually. A new desk, a printer, and a monitor? Each item is assessed on its own. A business could spend $60,000 on qualifying assets and write off the full amount in this financial year, provided every single item costs less than $20,000.
That changes the equation for businesses sitting on a budget item. The question isn’t “can I afford to spend $20,000?” The question is “how many items under $20,000 have I been putting off?”
What Qualifies
The write-off applies to depreciable assets. In practical terms for most NT businesses, that means:
Furniture. Desks, chairs, reception counters, meeting tables, storage units, shelving. If it has a useful life of more than a year and costs less than $20,000, it’s likely eligible. Businesses refreshing a tired office or fitting out a new space can claim each piece separately. Browse the office furniture range to see what’s available.
Technology and electronics. Laptops, monitors, docking stations, projectors, networking equipment. The kind of gear that usually sits on a depreciation schedule for three to five years can be written off in full this financial year.
Printers and business machines. From desktop printers to multifunction devices, laminators, and binding machines. If it runs your office and costs less than $20,000, it may qualify.
Fit-out services. For businesses planning a larger project, such as refreshing a reception area, redesigning an open-plan office, or fitting out a new premises, the combination of product selection, planning, and coordinated delivery can be structured as qualifying capital expenditure. Read more about how the office fit-out process works, and talk to your accountant about how the write-off applies to packaged fit-out projects.
Items that don’t qualify include trading stock, capital works (structural building improvements), and certain vehicles above the luxury car limit. The ATO website has the full list of exclusions.
The Deadline Is Stricter Than You Think
Here’s another detail that catches businesses out. To claim an asset in the current financial year, it’s not enough to have ordered it or paid for it before June 30.
The ATO requires the asset to be “first used or installed ready for use” before the deadline. That means fully assembled, connected, and capable of operating in the manner intended.
A laptop still sealed in its box doesn’t qualify. A desk sitting in the warehouse doesn’t qualify. A printer on a delivery truck crossing the border on July 1 doesn’t qualify. The asset needs to be operational in your workplace before midnight on June 30.
For businesses in the Territory, this creates a practical problem. Ordering from interstate suppliers in the second or third week of June is a gamble. Freight to the NT takes longer than freight to Sydney or Melbourne.
Weather disruptions, logistics delays, and end-of-financial-year freight congestion all stack against you. If the item arrives on July 1, you’ve missed the deduction window by a single day, and the asset goes onto next year’s depreciation schedule instead.
Why Local Purchasing Matters at EOFY
This is where having a local supplier makes the difference. No interstate freight. No shipping gambles. No sitting in the office on June 29 wondering if the courier van will turn up.
Fetch Office Choice at 3/655 Stuart Highway in Berrimah carries stock in-store across furniture, technology, printers, and business machines. For items not on the floor, the full Office Choice catalogue is available to order with local collection. Most furniture items arrive within 7 days, though turnaround can vary during EOFY peak.
For larger projects, the Fetch team can coordinate planning, product selection, and delivery as a complete service. If you’re fitting out a new office or refreshing an existing space, having a local supplier managing the timeline means you’re not relying on a chain of interstate logistics to meet a hard tax deadline.
Your purchase date, your delivery, and your installation are all local. That’s the certainty that interstate ordering can’t match in late June.
How to Make the Most of It
Talk to your accountant first. They can confirm which assets qualify for the instant write-off based on your business structure, turnover, and intended use. The ATO’s instant asset write-off page has the definitive rules, including the $20,000 threshold confirmation for the 2025-26 financial year.
Then look at what you’ve been putting off. The chairs that need replacing. The printer that jams. The reception area that hasn’t been touched in five years. Every qualifying item under $20,000 is a deduction you can claim this financial year, if you act before June 30. Browse the Fetch EOFY range to see what’s available.
Ready to get your EOFY purchasing sorted? Call Fetch on 08 8947 3877 or visit the store at 3/655 Stuart Highway, Berrimah, Monday to Friday 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. You can also browse the Office Choice range online at fetch.officechoice.com.au and order for local collection.
FAQ
How does the $20,000 instant asset write-off work? Small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million can deduct the full cost of eligible depreciable assets costing less than $20,000 each. The threshold applies per item, not as a total cap, so businesses can claim multiple qualifying assets in the same financial year. The asset must be first used or installed ready for use before June 30. Visit the ATO website for full eligibility details.
What business equipment qualifies for the instant asset write-off? Eligible items include depreciable assets such as furniture, technology, printers, business machines, and electronics. Each item must cost less than $20,000. Items that don’t qualify include trading stock, capital works, and certain vehicles above the luxury car limit. Talk to your accountant about what applies to your specific situation.
Is it too late to order business equipment before June 30? Not if you’re buying locally. Fetch Office Choice in Berrimah carries stock in-store and can order from the full Office Choice catalogue for local collection. Most furniture items arrive within 7 days. The key is that assets must be delivered and operational before June 30, not just ordered or paid for.
Can I claim multiple items under the instant asset write-off? Yes. The $20,000 threshold applies per individual asset, not as a total cap on spending. A business could purchase ten chairs at $800 each, a $4,000 desk, and a $12,000 reception fit-out, and each item may qualify separately for the instant write-off, provided all eligibility criteria are met.
Does Fetch offer fit-out services for larger office projects? Yes. For businesses planning a larger project such as an office refresh or a new fit-out, Fetch can coordinate planning, product selection, and delivery. Contact the store on 08 8947 3877 to discuss your requirements and timeline.
Does Fetch deliver business supplies in Darwin? Fetch offers local collection at the Berrimah store, and a delivery service in the Darwin and Palmerston area. For specific delivery options, contact the store at 08 8947 3877.
