June 30 is approaching — and if you run a business in Australia, what you buy before that date could save you thousands in tax. The end of the financial year is the most important purchasing window for Australian businesses, because eligible expenses incurred before midnight on June 30 can be claimed as deductions in this financial year’s tax return. Wait until July 1, and you push those deductions into next year.
But there’s a difference between smart EOFY spending and panic buying. Every year, business owners rush to buy equipment they don’t genuinely need, just to “get a tax deduction.” The problem? A tax deduction doesn’t give you free money — it reduces your taxable income by the amount you spend. You still need to spend real dollars. The deduction simply means the government shares a portion of the cost with you through a lower tax bill.
The smartest EOFY strategy is this: buy things you genuinely need, at the best possible price, before June 30. This guide shows you how to do exactly that — with a focus on IT equipment that every business needs and that refurbished machines deliver at 40–60% less than buying new.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information based on publicly available ATO guidelines. It is not personal tax advice. Always consult your tax professional for advice specific to your situation.
When your business purchases an asset — like a laptop, desktop, monitor, or other equipment — before June 30, that expense can potentially be deducted from your taxable income for the current financial year.
Under the instant asset write-off, eligible small businesses can deduct the full cost of individual assets below the applicable threshold immediately — not spread over multiple years. This means a laptop purchased on June 25 can be claimed in full on the tax return you lodge a few months later.
The key word is “eligible.” The asset must be first used or installed ready for use before June 30. Purchasing alone isn’t enough — you need to have the equipment in your hands and operational before the financial year ends. This is why ordering early in June is important rather than leaving it to the final days when shipping delays could push delivery past the deadline.
Not all EOFY purchases are equal. The best pre-June 30 investments share three qualities: your business genuinely needs them, they improve productivity or capability, and they retain their usefulness well beyond the current financial year.
IT equipment — laptops, desktops, monitors, and peripherals — ticks all three boxes for virtually every Australian business. Every employee needs a computer. Better equipment means faster work. And a quality business-class machine lasts three to five years or longer.
Here’s where the refurbished advantage becomes particularly powerful at EOFY. The tax deduction works the same whether you buy new or refurbished. The ATO doesn’t distinguish between them. But the cash you spend out of pocket is dramatically different.
Consider a business owner equipping five desks before June 30. Five new business desktops at $1,500 each costs $7,500 — which generates a $7,500 deduction. Five refurbished desktops at $360 each costs $1,800 — which generates a $1,800 deduction. The deduction is proportionally identical: you claim what you spend. But the refurbished buyer keeps $5,700 more cash in their business while still getting capable, enterprise-grade machines with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSDs.
The EOFY deduction is a reason to time your purchase. Buying refurbished is the reason your purchase goes further.
If any member of your team is working on a slow, outdated, or unreliable laptop, EOFY is the time to replace it. A refurbished business-class laptop with a Core i5 or i7 processor, 16GB RAM, and an SSD transforms daily productivity — and the full cost is potentially claimable this financial year.
Recommended options from Computer and Laptop Sales include the Dell Latitude 7300 at $320, the Lenovo ThinkPad T490 with Core i7 at $470, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 Gen 2i at $560, the Dell Latitude 5320 Touch at $620, and the HP ProBook 440 G7 with Core i7 at $630.
For permanent desk setups — office workstations, reception desks, and point-of-sale stations — refurbished mini desktops deliver excellent performance in a compact form factor at prices that maximise your deduction value.
Options from our desktop range include the HP ProDesk 600 G3 Desktop Mini at $250, the HP ProDesk 400 G4 SFF with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD at $360, and the Dell OptiPlex 7070 Micro at $420.
External monitors, keyboards, mice, webcams, headsets, and docking stations are all deductible business expenses. If your team is working on laptop screens when a $150–$250 external monitor would boost their productivity, EOFY is the time to make that investment.
Items costing $300 or less each can be individually claimed as an instant deduction by sole traders and businesses — no depreciation required.
If your business has employees working from home and you provide their equipment, those purchases are business deductions. Equipping a home worker with a refurbished laptop, a monitor, and a keyboard/mouse combo creates a productive remote setup and a legitimate business deduction — often for under $800 total.
To claim a deduction in this financial year, make sure you cover these points before June 30.
Order early enough for delivery. The asset must be in your possession and ready to use before June 30 — not just ordered. Allow at least a week for shipping, more if you’re outside metro areas.
Confirm the instant asset write-off threshold. Check the current threshold with your tax agent or on the ATO website. The threshold has changed multiple times in recent years — don’t assume last year’s limit still applies.
Keep your receipt. Save the invoice or receipt showing the purchase date, amount, supplier, and description. Digital copies are accepted by the ATO.
Set up and use the equipment before June 30. “Installed ready for use” is the ATO’s standard. Unbox it, set it up, and use it for business before the financial year ends.
Record the business-use percentage. If the equipment will be used for both business and personal purposes, establish your business-use percentage from day one.
Talk to your tax agent. Before making significant purchases, a five-minute conversation with your accountant can confirm you’re eligible for the deduction and that the timing is right for your specific situation.
EOFY is the one time of year when spending money and saving money happen at the same time. But only if you spend on things your business genuinely needs, at prices that make financial sense.
Refurbished business-class IT equipment is the ideal EOFY purchase: your team needs it, it improves daily productivity, it lasts for years, and the lower purchase price means more cash stays in your business while you still claim a legitimate deduction.
Don’t wait until June 29. Browse the range now, order with time to spare, and set up your new equipment before the financial year closes.
Browse EOFY-ready refurbished laptops and desktops at Computer and Laptop Sales →
General information only. Not personal tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for
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