The 30 June deadline: funding EOFY equipment, stock and bills in time

Every June, the same rush happens. Business owners realise they need a new oven, a ute, a compressor or a fit-out, and they want it “before EOFY”. Then they discover that the supplier’s lead time is three weeks and the installer is booked out until July.

The 30 June deadline is real, but it’s usually lost on logistics rather than on finance. This page sets out what the date actually requires and how to time funding so the purchase lands in the right year.

What actually has to happen by 30 June?

For the instant asset write-off, the ATO’s test is that an eligible depreciating asset costs less than $20,000 and is first used, or installed ready for use, in the income year. So the question isn’t just “have I paid?” — it’s “is it here, and is it ready to use?”

The key points as the ATO describes them:

• the threshold is $20,000 per asset
• it applies to businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million using simplified depreciation
• from 1 July 2026, the $20,000 write-off is permanent, rather than being extended one year at a time

That last change takes some of the pressure off. Because the write-off doesn’t disappear on 30 June, there’s less reason to rush a purchase you don’t need. Your accountant is the right person to confirm how the rules apply to you.

What’s realistic by timeline?

How far out from 30 June	Realistic options	What to watch
Six weeks or more	Equipment finance, secured or unsecured business loans	Best time: compare and order early
Three to four weeks	Unsecured loans for trading businesses; secured if property is simple	Supplier lead times
One to two weeks	Funding is still possible; delivery and installation are the risk	Get installation dates in writing
The last few days	Funding may be possible; “installed ready for use” may not be	Don’t buy just for the deadline

What to have ready when you call

• the supplier quote, including the delivery and installation date
• what the asset is for and how it earns its keep
• ABN or ACN, trading history and bank statements
• any trade-in or deposit you’re contributing
• your accountant’s view, if you have it, on timing
• property details if you’re considering security for a larger purchase

With those to hand, start the 60-second enquiry or ring 1300 752 188. In May and June, earlier really is better — suppliers, installers and accountants are all busy at once.

What other EOFY deadlines stack up?

30 June doesn’t come alone. Around it you’ll typically see:

• Final pay runs of the year and, under payday super, the super on them within seven business days of payday — see payday super.
• The April–June quarterly BAS, due 28 July (with an extra two weeks for eligible online lodgement).
• Insurance renewals and annual subscriptions that often fall on 1 July.
• Stocktakes, which can reveal you’re carrying more — or less — stock than you thought.

A 90-day deadline calendar is the easiest way to see these coming together.

Is it worth buying just for the deduction?

Usually not. A deduction reduces taxable income; it doesn’t make a purchase free. If you’d buy the equipment anyway in the next few months, bringing it forward can make sense. If you wouldn’t, the cash you spend — or borrow — is real money that has to be repaid.

The sensible order is:

1. Decide whether the business needs the asset.
2. Ask your accountant how and when it can be claimed.
3. Then arrange funding that suits the asset’s life and your cash flow.

What if equipment breaks in June?

Then it’s not an EOFY decision — it’s a breakdown deadline that happens to fall in June. The equipment breakdown page covers how to fund a repair or replacement while the business keeps trading.

An illustrative EOFY timeline

Illustrative example only. A café owner decides in early May that the espresso machine and grinder need replacing — the combined quote is under $20k per item, with a 15-business-day lead time and a booked installation date of 20 June. She checks with her accountant, enquires in the second week of May, and has unsecured funding in place before the order is confirmed. The machine is installed and in use by 21 June. Starting six weeks out meant the deadline never became a problem.

How do you avoid a cash squeeze in July?

EOFY purchases often leave the business a little lighter just as July brings its own bills: the final quarter’s BAS later in the month, annual insurance renewals, price rises from suppliers and the first pay runs of the new year. Before committing to a June purchase, add the next six weeks to your deadline calendar and check the lowest point. If funding the asset keeps your cash buffer intact for July, it may be worth more than the tax timing itself.

Line up EOFY funding before the rush

The best EOFY decisions are made in May, not on 29 June. Asking the Deadline Desk what’s possible won’t put a mark on your credit file, your details aren’t spread around a list of lenders, and a real person reviews your quote and calls you back.

When you send your enquiry, include the real purchase price and delivery date — accurate answers mean we can line up funding that lands before the asset does. Or ring 1300 752 188.