Who can claim
This deduction is available to individuals and companies.
- The expense is incurred in carrying on an existing income-producing business.
- Any private, capital or non-income-producing component is reasonably apportioned or excluded.
- The lease is a genuine finance or operating lease for an asset used in carrying on the business.
What you cannot claim
- Do not include private drawings or personal expenses.
- Do not treat a capital asset, improvement or acquisition cost as an ordinary operating expense.
- Rent or lease costs for real property belong under business premises costs.
- Hire-purchase arrangements use their own interest and depreciation treatment.
- An eligible capital cost of terminating a non-finance operating lease or licence can use the separate section 25-110 five-year write-off. That write-off does not apply to terminating a finance lease.
- Private use, leased-car limitations, withholding obligations and debt-deduction limitation rules can alter the claim.
- Enter a vehicle lease payment once: do not also include it in a business-car actual-cost or logbook amount.
- A luxury-car lease subject to the special rules is not claimed simply by deducting the actual lease payments.
How the amount is worked out
Claim the deductible business-use component of ordinary lease payments for the correct period. For a luxury-car lease subject to the special rules, reconcile the actual payments and calculate the notional finance or accrual amount plus decline in value limited by the applicable car limit, each reduced for non-taxable use. For eligible capital expenditure terminating a non-finance operating lease or licence, apply the section 25-110 five-year write-off; do not apply it to a finance-lease termination. Separate private and finance components and do not duplicate a leased-vehicle amount included in a business-car calculation.
Records the ATO expects
- Lease agreement
- Invoices and payment schedule
- Asset-use calculation
- Vehicle cost and applicable car limit where relevant
- Notional loan and accrual calculation for a luxury-car lease
- Termination and withholding records where relevant
Where this rule comes from
Primary source: Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 8-1 (Section 8-1). Reviewed 30 July 2026. Covers the 2025-26 and 2026-27 income years.
Supporting sources:
- Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 Division 242 (Compilation 266 in force 1 July 2026)
- Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 section 25-110 (Section 25-110)