Best ROI Office Equipment to Buy This EOFY
It is mid-May and the financial year is fast closing in. The question is no longer whether you should spend before June 30, but what office equipment EOFY tax deduction purchases actually make sense for your business.
For many small businesses, the decision comes down to timing and value. Under the current rules, the $20,000 instant asset write-off allows eligible businesses to claim qualifying purchases in full if they are installed and ready for use by June 30, 2026.
You can explore suitable devices through Ink Station’s printer range or our small business printer guide.
In this guide, we’ll discuss what qualifies for the write-off, which printers give the best return, the case for a dedicated scanner, why shredders matter for compliance, and the most common EOFY questions.
TL;DR
The $20,000 instant asset write-off applies to small businesses under $10m turnover for assets installed by June 30, 2026. From July 1, the threshold drops to $1,000. The best ROI comes from equipment that saves time or reduces operating costs, such as printers, document scanners, and auto-feed shredders. Buy before EOFY, keep records, and confirm details with your accountant. This also applies to many home office tax deduction Australia scenarios, where equipment is used for income-producing work.
What counts as claimable office equipment?
Many small business EOFY purchases fall into this category, especially everyday office equipment used to run operations. The ATO instant asset write-off allows
eligible small businesses to immediately deduct the cost of qualifying assets rather than depreciating them over time.
For FY 2025–26:
- The threshold is $20,000 per asset
- Your business must have an aggregated turnover under $10m
- The asset must be first used or installed, ready for use by June 30, 2026
- From July 1, 2026, the threshold is scheduled to be reduced to $1,000
If an item is partly used for personal use, only the business-use portion can be claimed. A simple way to think about this is whether the equipment directly supports income-generating activity or business operations. Printers, scanners, and shredders generally fall into this category when used for business workflows.
More detail is available directly from the ATO.
| Equipment | Approx purchase price | Estimated write-off value at 25% tax rate |
|---|---|---|
| Mono laser printer | $399 | ~$100 |
| Document scanner | $349 | ~$87 |
| Auto-feed shredder | $299 | ~$75 |
This is illustrative only. Actual tax benefit depends on your tax rate and business use. Consult your accountant.
Keeping receipts and records for business purposes. In an audit, this is what the ATO will focus on.
Printers: which type gives you the best return?
If you are considering a printer, the tax deduction rules in Australia generally allow eligible purchases to be claimed under the instant asset write-off. The right printer depends on volume, colour needs, and workflow rather than specifications alone. For a deeper comparison, take a look through our small business printer guide.
Low-volume home office printing (under 100 pages/month)
For lighter use, the Canon PIXMA TS3660 is a simple entry-level option for basic print, copy, and scan needs. The Epson EcoTank ET-2810 offers a different cost structure, with refillable ink tanks that reduce cost per page over time. It suits users who print occasionally but still want colour capability without frequent cartridge changes.
High-volume mono printing (invoices, contracts, forms)
The Lexmark MS431DW mono laser printer is built for speed and efficiency, printing up to 42 pages per minute. It suits businesses with regular document output where speed and cost per page matter more than colour. For many offices, this removes the need for external print services on bulk jobs.
Colour laser multifunction (print, scan, copy, fax)
The Lexmark CX431ADW combines multiple functions into one device. It is suited to offices that need reliable colour output and document handling in a single footprint. It also consolidates multiple devices into one asset for EOFY claiming purposes.
For niche use cases like architecture or design, wide-format printing may be relevant. The Canon imagePROGRAF TC-21 supports larger-scale output where standard A4 printing is not enough.
Scanners: Is a dedicated document scanner worth it?
A dedicated document scanner often delivers better ROI than relying on a multifunction printer or mobile scanning apps. Choosing the right scanner for small business Australia setups often comes down to volume and time savings The Canon imageFORMULA DR-C225II is designed for batch scanning, meaning you can load stacks of documents and process them automatically. This matters when handling receipts, contracts, or end-of-year filing.
The key advantage is speed. What might take an hour manually can often be reduced to minutes. Quality is also more consistent, with fewer rescans and formatting issues.
For sole traders or small offices with regular document workflows, this is one of the clearest examples of office equipment paying for itself in time savings. A device like this can be fully claimed under the instant asset write-off if installed before June 30.
Shredders: the compliance angle worth knowing
Under the Australian Privacy Act, businesses that handle personal information must take reasonable steps to destroy data when it is no longer needed. Simply discarding documents in general waste does not meet this requirement. For most small businesses, a P-3 or higher cross-cut shredder is considered appropriate for sensitive documents.
The Rexel Optimum Autofeed 50X adds another layer of efficiency by removing manual feeding. You load a stack of paper and let it run automatically.
From an EOFY perspective, shredders are often overlooked, yet many models under $500 qualify for immediate deduction under the instant asset write-off when purchased and installed before June 30.
This is one of the most practical compliance-related office purchases, particularly for businesses handling client records, financial documents, or HR files.
Consumables: worth stocking up before June 30?
Looking at what office equipment to buy before EOFY that will still keep the budget in check? Consumables such as ink, toner, labels, and packaging materials under $300 per item are generally treated as business expenses in the year they are purchased.
This is a common approach when planning EOFY office supply purchases in Australia, especially for items you are confident will be used in the coming months.
The EOFY advantage is timing. If you already know you will use them, buying before June 30 brings the deduction forward into the current financial year. Ink Station’s labels and packaging range is commonly used for this type of planning.
However, avoid over-ordering. Consumables must be for genuine business use. Stockpiling beyond realistic usage can create compliance issues and unnecessary costs.
Make your EOFY budget work harder before June 30
The key EOFY decision is not just what you buy, but whether it will still be useful to your business after June 30.
The current $20,000 instant asset write-off threshold applies only until the end of this financial year before reverting to $1,000 from July 1, 2026.
If you are planning your EOFY office equipment tax deduction strategy, Ink Station offers a range of printers, scanners, and shredders designed for business use and immediate claiming eligibility.
>> Explore our full range of printers and office equipment
>> Review our printer buying guide to compare options
If you are looking to make the most of your EOFY budget, start by making the right equipment choice with Ink Station.