(a) (1) In the case of Section 24356 property, the term “reasonable allowance” as used in subdivision (a) of Section 24349, may, at the election of the taxpayer, include an allowance, for the first taxable year for which a deduction is allowable under Sections 24349 through 24354 to the taxpayer with respect to such property, of 20 percent of the cost of that property.

(2) If in any one taxable year the cost of Section 24349 property with respect to which the taxpayer may elect an allowance under paragraph (1) for that taxable year exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), then paragraph (1) applies with respect to those items selected by the taxpayer, but only to the extent of an aggregate cost of ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

(b) (1) In lieu of subdivision (a), Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to election to expense certain depreciable business assets, applies, except as otherwise provided.

(2) Section 179(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to dollar limitation, does not apply and in lieu thereof, the aggregate cost that may be taken into account under Section 179(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, for any taxable year, shall not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).

(3) Section 179(b)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to reduction in limitation, does not apply and in lieu thereof, the limitation under paragraph (2), for any taxable year, shall be reduced, but not below zero, by the amount by which the cost of Section 179 property, as defined in Section 179(d)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code, except as otherwise provided, that is placed in service during the taxable year, exceeds two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000).

(4) Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code is modified to provide that the “aggregate amount disallowed” referred to in Section 179(b)(3)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be computed under this part as that section read on the date the property generating the amount disallowed was placed in service.

(5) The last sentence in Section 179(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to election irrevocable, does not apply.

(6) Section 179(d)(1)(A)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to computer software, does not apply.

(7) Section 179(e) of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to special rules for qualified disaster assistance property, does not apply.

(c) (1) The election under this section for any taxable year shall be made within the time prescribed by law (including extensions thereof) for filing the return for such taxable year. The election shall be made in such manner as the Franchise Tax Board may by regulations prescribe.

(2) Any election made under this section shall not be revoked except with the consent of the Franchise Tax Board.

(d) (1) For purposes of this section, the term “Section 24356 property” means tangible personal property—

(A) Of a character subject to the allowance for depreciation under Sections 24349 through 24354,

(B) Acquired by purchase after December 31, 1958, for use in a trade or business, and

(C) With a useful life (determined at the time of such acquisition) of six years or more.

(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “purchase” means any acquisition of property, but only if—

(A) The property is not acquired from a person whose relationship to the person acquiring it would result in the disallowance of losses under Section 24427 (but, in applying Section 267 of the Internal Revenue Code, relating to losses, expenses, and interest with respect to transactions between related taxpayers, for purposes of this section, Section 267(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be treated as providing that the family of an individual shall include only his or her spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants);

(B) The property is not acquired by one member of an affiliated group from another member of the same affiliated group, and

(C) The basis of the property in the hands of the person acquiring it is not determined in whole or in part by reference to the adjusted basis of that property in the hands of the person from whom acquired.

(3) For purposes of this section, the cost of property does not include so much of the basis of such property as is determined by reference to the basis of other property held at any time by the person acquiring that property.

(4) For purposes of subdivision (a) and subdivision (b) of this section:

(A) All members of an affiliated group shall be treated as one taxpayer, and

(B) The Franchise Tax Board shall apportion the dollar limitation contained in subdivision (a) or subdivision (b) among the members of the affiliated group in the manner as it shall by regulations prescribe.

(5) For purposes of paragraphs (2) and (4), the term “affiliated group” has the meaning assigned to it by Section 1504 of the Internal Revenue Code, except that, for those purposes, the phrase “more than 50 percent” shall be substituted for the phrase “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Section 1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(6) In applying Section 24353, the adjustment under paragraph (1) of subdivision (b) of Section 24916, resulting by reason of an election made under this section with respect to any Section 24356 property, shall be made before any other deduction allowed by subdivision (a) of Section 24349 is computed.

(e) The Franchise Tax Board shall prescribe those regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 86, Sec. 294. (SB 1171) Effective January 1, 2017.)