Quick answer
For EOFY 2027, plan purchases in the second half of the financial year, not the last fortnight. Key dates for quarterly lodgers: BAS due 28 October, 28 February, 28 April and 28 July. The $20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent from 1 July 2026, but assets must be first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2027 to count this year. Start finance conversations in April and aim for installation by mid-June.
Key points
- Quarterly BAS dates: 28 October, 28 February, 28 April, 28 July.
- The $20,000 write-off is permanent; the 30 June install test still sets the year.
- The simplified depreciation lock-out rule suspension runs to 30 June 2027.
- Payday Super means super leaves with every pay run, including through June.
- Arrange EOFY finance in April–May; keep late June as a buffer, not the plan.
EOFY isn’t a week in June. It’s the back end of a year-long cycle, and the owners who handle it calmly are the ones who started thinking about it months earlier. This countdown runs from October 2026 to July 2027, with every date that matters for timing business purchases, tax and cash flow — and the point at which each decision should be made.
What’s different about EOFY 2027?
Two things.
The $20,000 instant asset write-off is permanent. The ATO says the measure is now law, permanently setting the threshold at $20,000 from 1 July 2026 for small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million. For the first time in years, you don’t need to wait for a Budget announcement to know the threshold.
Payday Super is in place. From 1 July 2026, super contributions generally need to reach the employee’s fund within 7 business days after each payday. The June pay runs now carry their super with them, rather than it sitting until a quarterly deadline.
What hasn’t changed: the asset must be first used or installed ready for use by 30 June to be claimed in the 2026–27 year.
October to December 2026: set the direction
28 October — July–September BAS due (quarterly lodgers).
This is the quarter to take stock. With the first quarter’s BAS done, you have a reasonable view of how the year is tracking.
- Look at profit year to date against last year. A strong year makes deductions more valuable; a weak year makes them less so.
- Make a list of equipment, vehicles and fit-out work you genuinely need in the next 12 months.
- Note anything with a long lead time — imported machinery, custom builds, specialised vehicles. These may need ordering by early in the new year to be installed by June. See supplier lead times.
- For retail, the Christmas build is underway. Keep an eye on stock levels to protect the January–February cash position.
January to March 2027: plan and quote
28 February — October–December BAS due. Often the biggest BAS of the year for retail and hospitality, with Christmas sales in it. The ATO notes this quarter’s due date already includes extra time.
- In January, talk to your accountant about the likely tax position for 2026–27. Is this a year to bring deductions forward, or would next year benefit more? Our guide buy in June or July? sets out the trade-offs.
- In February, get quotes for planned purchases, with written stock and delivery dates.
- By March, order anything with a lead time of three months or more.
- The RBA’s Monetary Policy Board meets on 8–9 February and 22–23 March 2027. Don’t build your plan around guessing the outcome — see waiting for rates to fall.
April 2027: arrange the funding
28 April — January–March BAS due.
April is the sweet spot for EOFY finance. Suppliers still have stock, installers have diary space, and lenders aren’t yet in the June crush.
- Gather recent business bank statements, quotes, and your ATO position.
- Decide which purchases to fund and which to pay from cash. Keep enough cash for June’s wages, super, and the April–June BAS due 28 July.
- Start the finance conversation. A 60-second enquiry is enough to get a specialist working on it.
- Confirm your eligibility for the write-off with your accountant: aggregated turnover under $10 million, using simplified depreciation. If you previously opted out of simplified depreciation, note that the ATO’s lock-out suspension runs to 30 June 2027.
May 2027: order and schedule
The RBA meets on 3–4 May 2027. More importantly for most businesses, May is when to lock in the practical steps:
- Place orders for in-stock items.
- Book delivery and installation or commissioning — electricians, plumbers, gasfitters and manufacturer technicians.
- Budget for July’s cost rises: new award wage rates from the first full pay period on or after 1 July, supplier price lists and lease reviews. See July cost rises.
- Check any supplier price increase notices for 1 July and decide whether buying ahead is worth it; our page on supplier price increase notices shows the test.
June 2027: install, document, breathe
The RBA meets on 21–22 June 2027. The last fortnight of June is for buffers, not plans.
- By mid-June: equipment delivered and installed ready for use. Keep delivery dockets, installation sign-offs and dated photos.
- Stock: remember that unsold trading stock is counted at year end, so buying extra stock purely for tax rarely helps. See stock before EOFY.
- Payroll: June pay runs carry super within 7 business days under Payday Super, so allow for it in the last weeks of the year.
- 30 June: income year ends. Anything installed ready for use after today falls into 2027–28.
July 2027: the new year’s first weeks
28 July — April–June BAS due (quarterly lodgers; online lodgers may get extra time).
- New wage rates start from the first full pay period on or after 1 July.
- If you bought equipment in June, the GST credit may already be on your April–June BAS — see GST credits on a big purchase.
- Supplier price lists and lease reviews often land now.
- Some dealers clear stock after the EOFY rush. If a July purchase suits your tax position, it can be a good month to buy.
What does the whole year look like on one page?
| Month | Key date | Main decision |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | 28 Oct BAS | Review year to date; list needs |
| Nov–Dec | — | Order long-lead items; manage Christmas stock |
| Jan 2027 | — | Accountant: which year for deductions? |
| Feb | 28 Feb BAS | Quotes with written delivery dates |
| Mar | — | Order items with 3+ month lead times |
| Apr | 28 Apr BAS | Arrange finance; confirm eligibility |
| May | — | Order; book delivery and installation |
| Jun | 30 Jun | Install ready for use; keep evidence |
| Jul | 28 Jul BAS | New wage rates; post-EOFY deals |
Illustrative example: a calm EOFY for a dental practice
Illustrative only — invented figures and dates.
A two-chair dental practice decides in January that it needs an intraoral scanner ($18,500 excluding GST) and a steriliser ($9,800), both under the $20,000 threshold, plus a new chair package ($46,000) that will go into the small business pool.
- February: quotes obtained; the chair has a 10-week lead time.
- March: chair ordered.
- April: finance arranged for all three items to keep cash free for wages and super.
- May: scanner and steriliser ordered; installation booked for early June.
- 10 June: all items installed ready for use.
The two smaller items are written off in 2026–27 and the chair package enters the pool. The practice avoided the late-June scramble entirely.
What if I’m reading this in May or June?
Then compress the plan, but keep its order:
- This week: list what you genuinely need; ask suppliers for firm stock, delivery and installation dates.
- Same week: start the finance conversation and gather documents in parallel.
- Next week: order only items that can realistically be installed ready for use by 30 June.
- Everything else: plan for July, when stock and installers are easier to get and the permanent $20,000 threshold still applies.
Late-season planning works when you’re selective. Trying to squeeze every purchase into the final fortnight is how deliveries slip and cash runs tight.
Start your EOFY plan while there’s time
The businesses that get the most out of 30 June are the ones who decided in autumn, not in the final week. If you’re planning equipment, vehicles or a fit-out before EOFY 2027, the finance side is the part to start first. Our enquiry form takes about a minute and involves no credit check. It goes to one team — your details aren’t passed around to lender after lender — and a specialist calls to plan around your install dates. Please answer accurately about what you’re buying, the cost and when you need it in place, so we can line everything up the first time.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last day to buy equipment for the 2026–27 tax year?
There's no purchase deadline as such; what matters is that the asset is first used or installed ready for use by 30 June 2027. Buying on 28 June only works if it's also installed and ready by 30 June.
Is the $20,000 instant asset write-off available in 2026–27?
Yes. The ATO says the $20,000 threshold is now law and permanent from 1 July 2026 for small businesses with aggregated turnover under $10 million, applying per asset.
When is the April–June 2027 BAS due?
For quarterly lodgers, 28 July 2027. The ATO notes some businesses lodging online may get an extra two weeks for quarterly BAS.
What is the lock-out rule and why does 30 June 2027 matter?
Normally a small business that stops using simplified depreciation can't re-enter for five years. The ATO says this lock-out rule is suspended until 30 June 2027, allowing those businesses to use the instant asset write-off. Check with your accountant if it applies to you.
When should I talk to a lender about EOFY equipment?
April or early May. That leaves time for quotes, approval, delivery and installation before 30 June without relying on the busiest fortnight of the year.