Part 2 · Business Income & Deductions

MACRS Depreciation: Half-Year Convention & MACRS Tables

MACRS Depreciation: Half-Year Convention & MACRS Tables is a critical concept in EA Exam Part 2, Business Income & Deductions. This topic covers essential tax principles that frequently appear on the exam. Understanding half-year convention & macrs tables is crucial for passing Part 2.

Half-Year Convention & MACRS Tables: EA Exam Part 2 at a glance, what is tested and the IRS references

Quick answer

This subtopic tests the half-year convention and using the MACRS percentage tables. The half-year convention treats assets as placed in service at mid-year, giving a half-year of depreciation in year one and the final year.

Half-Year Convention & MACRS Tables is tested on EA Exam Part 2 (Business Income & Deductions). Primary IRS reference: IRC § 168(d)(1).

About this EA exam topic

This subtopic tests the half-year convention and using the MACRS percentage tables. The half-year convention treats assets as placed in service at mid-year, giving a half-year of depreciation in year one and the final year.

The EA exam gives a basis and asset class and asks for the depreciation using the table percentages under the half-year convention.

What you'll be tested on

  • The half-year convention and when it applies
  • Reading MACRS table percentages
  • First-year and final-year half-year effects
  • When another convention overrides it

How to prepare

  • Default to half-year unless the mid-quarter trigger applies.
  • Practice using the table percentages rather than computing by hand.
  • Remember the extra half-year in the final recovery year.

Practice questions for Half-Year Convention & MACRS Tables

What this topic covers

Half-Year Convention & MACRS Tables appears in Part 2: Business Taxation within the Business Income & Deductions domain. VantageEA practice questions focus on how macrs depreciation rules are applied in realistic EA exam fact patterns.

What candidates practice

Candidates practice identifying tested facts, choosing the best multiple-choice answer, and reviewing explanations tied to IRC § 168(d)(1), IRC § 168(d)(4)(A), IRS Publication 946. This topic supports timed 100-question PSI-style mock tests and shorter topic review sessions.

Related practice-question themes include macrs, depreciation, half-year-convention, macrs-tables.

Topic overview

Exam partPart 2: Business Taxation
DomainBusiness Income & Deductions
TopicMACRS Depreciation
Difficultyeasy to medium
Last updated2025-tax-year

Official IRS sources

Related keywords

macrsdepreciationhalf-year-conventionmacrs-tablespercentage-method

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-year convention?

A MACRS rule treating property as placed in service at mid-year, giving half a year of depreciation in the first and last years.

Which part?

Part 2 (Businesses).

Reference?

IRS Publication 946.

Practice this topic.

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