Table of Recovery Period for Assets (Partial Listing Only)

Placed in Service after 1986 Years of Recovery

MACRS/ ADS/
Post-1998 Pre-1999
AMT1 AMT1

Office furniture and equipment, including desks, files, safes, communication equipment 7 10
Distributive Trades &
See Assets Used in

Computers and peripheral equipment 5 5

RELATED (Also

Data handling equipment - typewriters, calculators, copiers, adding machines 5 6

OFFICE

Fax machines 7 10
Telephone systems 7 10
Personal property with no class life 7 12
Computer software2 N/A N/A

Airplanes, airframes and engines (noncommercial) and helicopters 5 6

Automobiles, taxis 5 5
Buses 5 9
BUSINESS VEHICLES
TRANSPORTATION &

Light general purpose trucks (actual unloaded weight less than 13,000 lbs) 5 5
Heavy general purpose trucks (actual unloaded weight 13,000 lbs. or more) 5 6
Railroad cars and locomotives, except those owned by railroad transportation co. 7 15
Tractor units for over-the-road 3 4
Trailers and trailer-mounted containers 5 6
Vessels, barges, tugs and similar water transportation equipment 10 18
Motor transportation assets – commercial carrying of passengers by road 5 8
Motor transportation assets – commercial carrying of freight by road 5 8
Water transportation assets – commercial carrying of passengers & freight by water 15 20
Air transportation assets – commercial carrying of passengers & freight by air 7 12

Land improvements (sidewalks, roads, drainage facilities, bridges, fences,

15 20
IMPROVEMENT

landscaping, shrubbery, wharves, docks, bridges, radio towers, )

PROPERTY &

Furniture and fixtures in rental property 7 12

REAL

Appliances in rental property 7 12

S

Section 1245 real property with no class life 7 40

Residential rental real property 27.5 40
Nonresidential real property (generally placed in service after 5/12/93) 39 40

Agricultural machinery, equipment, grain bins, fences. 7 10

Cotton ginning assets 7 12
Cattle – breeding or dairy 5 7
Any breeding or work horses - 12 years old or less at time placed in service 7 10
AGRICULTURE

Any breeding or work horses - more than 12 years old at time placed in service 3 10
Any race horses, more than 2 years old at the time placed in service 3 12
Hogs, breeding 3 3
Sheep and goats, breeding 5 5
Farm buildings, other than single purpose structures (see below) 20 25
Single purpose agricultural / horticultural structures (in service before 1989) 7 15
Single purpose agricultural / horticultural structures (in service after 1988) [IRC Secs.
10 15
168(e)(3)(D)(i) and 168(g)(3)(B)]
Trees and vines, fruit or nut-bearing (in service after 1988) [IRC Secs. 168(e)(3)(D)(ii)
and 168(g)(3)(B)] 10 20
IN DISTRIBUTIVE

Assets unique to wholesale, retail trade, and personal & professional services 5 9
ASSETS USED

ACTIVITIES
TRADES &
SERVICES

Section 1245 assets used in marketing petroleum and petroleum products 5 9

High technology medical equipment defined in IRC Sec. 168(i)(2)(C) 5 5
Billboards, service station buildings, petroleum marketing land improvements 15 20
ASSETS USED IN

Mining assets (i.e., used to mine sand, gravel, clay, etc.) 7 10

EXTRACTION
MINERAL

Assets used in drilling onshore oil and gas wells 5 6

Assets used in exploration and production of oil and gas 7 14
Assets used in offshore drilling – drilling vessels, barges, platforms, towboats, etc. 5 7.5
Petroleum refining – distillation, fractionation, catalytic cracking of crude petroleum
10 16

Assets used in construction activities by general building contractors, real estate

subdividers, and developers 5 6
Assets used in recreation activities, other than specialized land Improvements 7 10
OTHER

Timber-cutting equipment 5 6
Assets used in various manufacturing industries, railroad transportation, pipeline
N/A N/A
transportation, telephone, etc. are not listed on this schedule.
Personal property with no class life
7 12

FOOTNOTES:
1
The alternative minimum tax (AMT) recovery period is eliminated for assets placed in service after 1998. Accordingly, the MACRS
recovery period is used for both regular tax and AMT even though the depreciation method still differs.
2
Computer software that is purchased along with hardware and is not separately itemized on the invoice is depreciated along with
the hardware. If the software cost is separately stated on the invoice, then it is capitalized and amortized over a 36-month period
beginning with the month of acquisition unless Section 197 applies. Software such as annual program updates may qualify for a
shorter write-off period.