If your company qualifies as a Small Business Corporation (SBC), section 12E of the Income Tax Act lets you write off assets far faster than ordinary wear and tear. Our free SARS SBC wear and tear calculator works out your accelerated section 12E depreciation allowance for the 2027 tax year (1 March 2026 – 28 February 2027): a 100% write-off for plant and machinery used directly in manufacturing, or a 50%/30%/20% three-year write-off for other depreciable assets. Enter the asset, purchase date and cost to see your year-by-year deduction schedule.
The calculator applies the accelerated allowance in section 12E of the Income Tax Act, which is only available to a qualifying Small Business Corporation. It first asks for the asset type, because section 12E splits assets into two classes. Plant and machinery brought into use directly in a process of manufacture (or a similar process) is written off 100% in the first year of assessment in which it is brought into use. Per SARS Interpretation Note 9 the asset does not have to be new and unused; used plant and machinery also qualifies. All other qualifying depreciable assets follow the 50/30/20 rule (50% in year one, 30% in year two and 20% in year three) instead of the slower section 11(e) wear-and-tear write-off period. From your purchase month and financial year-end, the tool determines which year of assessment the asset is first claimed in and lays out the deduction for each year. Unlike ordinary depreciation, the section 12E allowance is calculated on the full cost and is not apportioned for the number of months the asset was used in that year.
Section 12E accelerated wear and tear write-off rates (statutory, so these do not change with the annual Budget):
| Asset type | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant & machinery used directly in manufacture (new or used) | 100% | – | – |
| Other depreciable assets | 50% | 30% | 20% |
To qualify for section 12E in the 2027 tax year, a company/CC must meet all SBC requirements, including:
SBC income tax rates (years of assessment ending 1 Apr 2026 – 31 Mar 2027): 0% up to R99,000; 7% of the excess above R99,000 up to R365,000; R18,620 + 21% above R365,000 up to R550,000; R57,470 + 27% above R550,000.
Example (2027 tax year, 1 Mar 2026 – 28 Feb 2027): An SBC with a February year-end buys an office server (an "other depreciable asset") for R60,000 in June 2026. Under section 12E's 50/30/20 rule the deduction is spread over three years of assessment:
Had the same R60,000 been spent on plant and machinery used directly in manufacturing, the full R60,000 would be deductible in the 2027 tax year (100% in year one), whether the machine was new or second-hand.
Section 12E gives a qualifying Small Business Corporation an accelerated depreciation deduction. Plant and machinery used directly in manufacture is written off 100% in the year it is brought into use, while other depreciable assets are written off over three years at 50%, 30% and 20%. It replaces the slower section 11(e) wear-and-tear write-off.
An SBC must be a private company, CC, personal liability company or co-operative with gross income of R20 million or less for the year. All shareholders must be natural persons holding no other company shares (limited exceptions), and it cannot be a personal service provider or earn more than 20% from investment and personal-service income combined.
No. For the 100% first-year section 12E write-off, plant and machinery used directly in a process of manufacture qualifies whether it is new or used, provided it is owned and brought into use by a qualifying SBC in that trade. SARS Interpretation Note 9 confirms the plant and machinery 'may be new or second-hand', provided it is brought into use for the first time by the qualifying SBC.
No. Per SARS Interpretation Note 9, the section 12E write-off is not apportioned for the number of months the asset was used during the year of assessment. The full first-year percentage (100% or 50%) is claimed in the year the asset is brought into use, even if that is late in the financial year.
Section 12E is the accelerated allowance reserved for qualifying Small Business Corporations (100% manufacturing, or 50/30/20 on other assets). Section 12C is the manufacturing wear-and-tear allowance for any taxpayer: 40/20/20/20 over four years for new assets, or 20% a year over five years for used ones. Most qualifying SBCs use the more generous section 12E rates.
Yes, if your business is a qualifying SBC. Vehicles, furniture, computers and similar non-manufacturing depreciable assets fall under the 50/30/20 three-year write-off. Only plant and machinery used directly in a manufacturing process gets the 100% first-year deduction. Assets bought for private use do not qualify.
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