EIM36910 - Deductions from earnings: capital allowances: example: first year allowance

The 40% or 50% FYAs were withdrawn in respect of expenditure incurred on or after 6 April 2008 (for IT purposes) and were replaced by the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA).

This example shows how first year allowance is calculated in a straightforward case.

On 6 June 2007, an employee starts a new job in Exeter and has to spend £600 on a word processor to perform their duties. The word processor is used solely for work. As the expenditure was incurred in a qualifying period (see EIM36630) the employee claims capital allowances as follows.

Tax year	Description	£
2007 to 2008	Cost	600
	First year allowance 50% of £600 =	300
	Residual value carried forward	300
2008 to 2009	Writing down allowance 20% of £300 =	60
	Residual value carried forward	240

Note that the full 50% first year allowance is due even though the employee started the job part way through the tax year (see EIM36610).

But if the employee had used the word processor partly for non-business purposes, a private use adjustment would have been necessary.

Please also see the guidance at EIM36695 relating to small pools allowance.