This Question is Answered

2 "helpful" answers available (4 pts)
Post a new topic
8 Replies Last post: May 18, 2008 4:09 PM by Santa Fe CPA

putting tools on the books

May 17, 2008 8:22 AM

Click to view t1luke's profile Professional t1luke 5 posts since
May 17, 2008
I have a new woodworking business and need to put my large tools on the books,

I think it goes like this - Table saw, used, est value $800.00 - owner contrubition $$$ to tool asset ?

Thanks
Report as inappropriate
Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,938 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
1. Re: putting tools on the books May 17, 2008 9:11 AM
putting tools on the books This is taking me back to school days.

Are you are Corporation?? Do you have an Accountant??

My suggestions might be different from your accountant.

Debit Equipment Credit Capital or Equity

Next question, LUCKIEST
Click to view Santa Fe CPA's profile Mogul Santa Fe CPA 67 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
2. Re: putting tools on the books May 17, 2008 4:00 PM
The table saw, used or new, is a depreciable asset with a 7 year life. The offseting entry will be to your capital account. The asset may be eligible fro the Section 179 additional first year depreciation.
This will apply to any long lived asset.
At this apparent stage of business for you, I sugggest that any tool costing $500.00 or less be expensed as "Small Tools"
We do bookkeeping and accounting over the internet via secure systems for businesses across teh country.

Good lck in this venture.
Click to view MRFINANCE's profile Mogul MRFINANCE 104 posts since
May 11, 2008
3. Re: putting tools on the books May 17, 2008 11:44 PM
in response to: Santa Fe CPA
Santa Fe CPA is always on the mark! Good job!
Click to view t1luke's profile Professional t1luke 5 posts since
May 17, 2008
4. Re: putting tools on the books May 18, 2008 11:04 AM
in response to: Santa Fe CPA
Santa Fe CPA, Thank you for your input - am I correct about the first entry? owner contrubition to fixed asset? And can you provide more info about your service ?

Thanks again
Click to view Lighthouse24's profile Mogul Lighthouse24 2,396 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
5. Re: putting tools on the books May 18, 2008 11:46 AM

Your profile doesn't indicate where you are located, so this may not be relevant to you -- but it's a "heads up" for anyone. Be aware of the property tax implications. For example, there are no taxes on personal property in my state or local jurisdictions, but the city and county do assess and tax business property (both real and "business personal" property).

A neighbor of mine started a photography business out of her home last year and transferred a lot of her personal equipment to the new company. She was totally surprised when she received a business property rendition early this year and realized she had to file and pay business property tax on those items. That's not to say the transfer shouldn't be made -- just that it may add an obligation that some first time start-up business owners overlook.

Good luck with your new enterprise. Best wishes.
Click to view Santa Fe CPA's profile Mogul Santa Fe CPA 67 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
6. Re: putting tools on the books May 18, 2008 3:50 PM
in response to: MRFINANCE
MRFINANCE, Thanks for your kind words. Richard Robinson, CPA
Click to view Santa Fe CPA's profile Mogul Santa Fe CPA 67 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
7. Re: putting tools on the books May 18, 2008 3:53 PM
in response to: Lighthouse24
Lighthouse 24, You have made a very good point here. Some local county assessors and treasureres are very aggressive in assessig personal porperty for business entities and the equalization and rates applied can be very surprising.
Click to view Santa Fe CPA's profile Mogul Santa Fe CPA 67 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
8. Re: putting tools on the books May 18, 2008 4:09 PM
in response to: t1luke
Good Afternoon there, t1uke,

The entiries to book this transaction would these: A debit to Fixed Assets and a credit to the Capital Account. The depreication would be booked as a debit to Depreciation Expense and credit to Accumulated Depreciation.

My firm provides bookkeeping, tax and accounting services to small abd medium size enteprises across the country. We use and Application Service Provider to host the QuickBooks software that we use (primarlily, as the off the shelf market leader.) but also ahve a Peachtree capability. We work in a "paperless" environment; inout materials and documents are faxed or e-mailed via a secure communications link to my document management service by the client at the end of each business day. The items are then posted to your file overnight by my bookkeeping staff and are available to the client the next morning. Full disclosure, my data entry bookkeeping staff is located ofrtf-shore in Bangalor, India, they are trained accountants. .