EOFY equipment finance: how to buy before 30 June without the scramble

Every June the same thing happens. Owners realise the financial year is nearly over, remember the equipment they have been meaning to buy, and try to buy, finance, deliver and install it in a fortnight. Dealers run out of stock. Electricians are booked solid. Lenders are flat out. Some purchases miss the date; others get rushed into the wrong structure. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Why does EOFY timing matter for equipment?

Because the tax deduction follows the asset into service. Under the ATO’s rules, an eligible asset is written off (if it costs less than $20,000) or added to the small business pool (if it costs more) in the income year it is first used or installed ready for use. Buying it isn’t enough; it has to be ready to work.

So an EOFY purchase really has four deadlines stacked inside one:

1. Choosing the equipment and getting a firm quote.
2. Arranging the finance.
3. Delivery.
4. Installation or set-up so the asset is ready for use.

What does a calm EOFY timeline look like?

Working back from 30 June:

When	What to do
Early April	List what you genuinely need; talk to your accountant about this year’s likely tax position
Mid April	Get quotes; confirm stock and delivery windows in writing
Late April – early May	Start the finance conversation; gather bank statements and quotes
Mid May	Finance approved; place orders
Late May – mid June	Delivery and installation
Last fortnight of June	Buffer for delays — not the plan

For the full year’s calendar of tax dates and decisions, see our EOFY 2027 countdown.

How should I finance EOFY equipment?

The goal is to pay for equipment in a way that matches how it earns, while leaving your working capital alone. Wages, super, BAS and stock still need paying in June and July, and July brings its own cost increases.

Options include:

• Property-secured business loans ($20,000 to $5,000,000) — useful for larger or multiple items, specialised gear, or where installation and fit-out costs are part of the job.
• Unsecured or cash-flow facilities (typically $5,000 to $500,000 for trading businesses) — sized on turnover and bank statements, useful for smaller purchases or topping up.
• Leasing or dealer finance — business.gov.au notes leasing can lower upfront costs and make upgrades easier, while buying builds ownership.

Whichever you look at, compare the total dollar cost of each option over the time you’ll have it, not a headline figure.

Illustrative example: the café refit

Illustrative figures only.

A café owner decides in early May to replace an ageing commercial dishwasher ($11,500), add a second combi oven ($18,900) and install a new cold-room compressor ($8,400), all excluding GST. Each item costs under $20,000.

• Quotes confirmed by 10 May, with the oven on a four-week lead time.
• Finance conversation started the same week; approval by 20 May.
• Delivery and installation of all three by 14 June.

All three items are installed ready for use before 30 June, so each can be written off in the 2026–27 year under the permanent $20,000 rule, subject to the café meeting the eligibility tests. Had the owner started on 15 June, the oven would have landed in July — and the deduction in the following year.

If you have gear to replace before June, start a quick enquiry now rather than in the last week.

What about GST on the purchase?

If you’re registered for GST, you can generally claim the GST included in the price as a credit on your BAS, provided you meet the ATO’s conditions, including holding a valid tax invoice for purchases over $82.50. The credit timing depends on whether you account for GST on a cash or accrual basis. We cover this on GST credits on a big purchase.

What trips people up at EOFY?

• Stock and lead times. Popular models sell out in June.
• Installer availability. Electricians, plumbers and fit-out trades book out too.
• Documents. Missing bank statements or quotes slow approvals.
• Buying for the sake of it. If you wouldn’t buy the item in October, think twice in June.

The last point matters most. Our guide to buying just to save tax shows why.

What documents speed up EOFY approval?

The quickest EOFY applications arrive complete. Have these ready before you enquire:

• a written quote or invoice showing the item, price, GST and supplier details;
• the supplier’s confirmed delivery date, and the installer’s booked date if installation is needed;
• your recent business bank statements;
• ID and ABN or ACN details;
• a list of existing business debts and your ATO position;
• property details if you’re offering security.

With those in hand, the finance step stops being the one that holds up delivery. If you’re unsure which structure suits — secured, unsecured or a lease — a specialist can talk it through once they see what you’re buying and how your business trades.

Beat the June rush

If you already know what you need before 30 June, the best time to start the finance side is now. Send us a 60-second enquiry — there’s no credit check to ask, your enquiry isn’t blasted to a list of lenders, and a real person calls to map the timing with you. Please be accurate about the equipment, the cost and the delivery date you’re working to; it helps us get the structure right on the first call.