Upgrading to a new air compressor can increase efficiency, improve production, and strengthen reliability. Section 179 of the IRS tax code makes this capital expense easier for businesses to absorb.
Compressed air systems are so crucial in manufacturing and industrial facilities that they rival water, electricity and gas. Compressed air is often called the “fourth utility” because it’s so widely used in industry. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Compressed Air Challenge studies, compressed air systems typically consume up to 30% of a facility’s total electricity use. If a system leaks, utility bills can spike, along with carbon emissions.
Choosing the right-sized compressor helps improve overall system efficiency and reduce energy waste. A larger compressor can help a company boost its production and lower its utility bills at the same time.
Section 179 – Tax incentive
New air compressors can be a significant capital expense. Tax incentives make them more attractive. Section 179 is an IRS tax break that lets businesses deduct the cost of qualifying equipment in the year it is placed into service rather than depreciating it over time. This can significantly improve cash flow. While it doesn’t literally lower the purchase price, the tax savings reduce the after-tax cost, which makes the investment feel more affordable.
Key limits and rules:
- For tax years beginning in 2024, the maximum Section 179 deduction is $1,220,000, before phase-out.
- The deduction begins to phase out dollar-for-dollar once a business invests more than $3,050,000 in qualifying equipment that year.
- Starting in 2025, the deduction limit increases to $2.5 million, with a phase-out threshold at $4 million.
- The deduction applies to both new and used equipment, as long as it is used more than 50 percent of the time for business.
- The total deduction cannot exceed the company’s taxable income from the business, though unused amounts can often be carried over.
Example savings
Section 179 gives companies a chance to look at compressors not only as equipment upgrades, but investments that impact energy, uptime and safety — without the large capital outlays.
If a company invests $150,000 in a new compressor system, by applying Section 179, the business could deduct the entire $150,000 in the same year. At a 25% effective tax rate, that results in $37,500 in tax savings. The effective cost of the system drops to $112,500 after tax.
Section 179 makes the upgrade far more affordable while still delivering the efficiency, reliability and production benefits of a new unit. New compressors are more energy efficient and feature smarter controls. They perform better at a lower operating cost. They can expand production and future-proof operations.
The cost of waiting
There is a price to be paid for waiting too long to upgrade. Higher energy bills — at a time when utility prices are surging — can zap a company’s profits. The DOE estimates that a typical compressed air systems lose 20%–30% of their output to leaks. In poorly maintained systems, leaks can waste up to 50% of compressed air.
Reliability can be an issue, too. Aging systems can lead to unplanned maintenance, costly repair bills and operational downtime. For industries where high-quality compressed air is essential — such as in food and beverage, pharmaceuticals and many types of manufacturing — water and oil contamination can cause damaged products and production shutdowns.
Companies should determine the cost of delaying necessary upgrades in terms of energy usage, repair bills, product quality issues and potential downtime. For many of them, it’s easier to take advantage of tax incentives — it provides stability and planning over unpredictability and surprise shutdowns.
Work with us
ELGi works with businesses across the country to size and spec the right solution without delay. The goal is to help companies build the systems they need — now. That means studying their operations and finding them the right compressor that best meets their individual needs. ELGi helps companies understand how tax incentives like Section 179 can reduce the financial pressure of investing in new compressors.
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