NTRA: Tax Bill Could Benefit Thoroughbred Breeders, Owners

The tax package includes changes to depreciation and expensing of yearlings, breeding stock, farm equipment, and more.
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The tax bill cleared by Congress for President Donald Trump’s signature contains a number of provisions beneficial to horse breeders and owners, according to an initial assessment by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA).

The NTRA said the tax bill benefits the horse racing industry by slashing corporate tax rates, reducing most individual tax rates, doubling the estate tax exemption from $5 million to $10 million (indexed for inflation occurring after 2011), and generally providing special tax treatment for certain pass-through entities (such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and S corporations).

The package also includes significant and positive changes to depreciation and expensing of yearlings, breeding stock, farm equipment, and other qualifying depreciable property:

  • Bonus Depreciation—An increase in bonus depreciation from 50% to 100% for both new and used property acquired and put into service after Sept. 27, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2023. Bonus depreciation permits first-year full-expensing for purchases such as yearlings, breeding stock, and farm equipment. Current law provides for 50% depreciation on new property only. The new benefits will be effective at the 100% rate through 2022. Beginning with 2023, bonus depreciation will be phased out at a rate of 20% each year until fully phased out after 2027.
  • 179 Deduction—The maximum amount that can be expensed under this provision has been increased from $500,000 to $1 million for new and used property. Additionally, the phase-out threshold for the deduction has been increased from $2 million to $2.5 million. Both the maximum deduction and phase-out amount are permanently extended and will be indexed for inflation.
  • Farm Property—Machinery and equipment used in farming operations will be granted accelerated depreciation with a useful life of only five years and depreciation using the 200 percent declining balance method. The current law provides for a useful life of seven years and depreciation using the 150% declining balance method.

“At more than 700 pages, the tax bill and accompanying joint explanatory statement are enormous in both size and complexity,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “While the overall impacts on each individual will vary, in general many of the provisions should have a positive impact on the economics of horse racing and breeding

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