Section 179 Calculator 2026
for Forklifts & Equipment

See your 2026 deduction and tax savings on forklifts and warehouse equipment. Equipment must be in service by December 31, 2026.

Warehouse manager reviewing equipment costs on a tablet
2026 Section 179 calculator

Estimate your tax savings

Add the equipment you're considering and see what a full first-year write-off could mean for your 2026 taxes.

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days left to put equipment in service for a 2026 deductionDeadline: December 31, 2026

Your equipment

Enter each piece of equipment and its price from your quote.

Your taxes

$

Pass-through owners use their personal bracket. C corporations pay a flat 21%.

Financing

$

Your estimate

Estimated first-year tax savings $0 Net cost after savings: $0
Equipment total
$0
Section 179 deduction
$0
100% bonus depreciation
$0
First-year deduction
$0

Your 2026 tax savings

With Section 179$0
Depreciating over 5 years$0

You deduct the same total either way. Section 179 lets you take all of it this year instead of spreading it out.

Get real pricing from someone nearby

  1. Tell us what you need. Send your equipment list with this form. Your estimate comes along with it.
  2. We pair you with your local forklift expert. One rep from the nearest of our 14 locations follows up.
  3. Get the right forklift and get back to work. We confirm pricing and what can be delivered and in service before December 31.

Estimates use 2026 IRS figures: a $2,560,000 Section 179 limit that phases out dollar for dollar once purchases pass $4,090,000, and 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying equipment acquired after January 19, 2025. Equipment must be placed in service by December 31, 2026. Section 179 can't exceed business taxable income; bonus depreciation has no income limit. This is an estimate, not tax advice. Talk to your tax professional before you buy.

Confirm your equipment cost

The Lilly Company's HubSpot form loads here on the live page. Your equipment total, deduction and estimated savings are added to the form automatically, so the rep sees them with your request.

Your request stays with The Lilly Company. We don't pass it to other dealers or lead services, so you won't get a string of calls and texts from people you've never heard of.

Serving warehouses for over 100 years. 14 locations in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Eastern Arkansas and Georgia.

"We've had a relationship with Lilly for 20 years. Of the material handling companies we deal with, Lilly is by far the better company. They've been around the longest and provide the best service. Brad Gregory has always done everything he could do for us."
Brent Noah
Director of Facilities at Viking Range
★★★★★
"Working for the government, it is important to be a good steward of taxpayer money. The Lilly Company makes recommendations I would never think of. That's why they are my go-to solution for forklift, material handling equipment, and services. I highly recommend rental from The Lilly Company!"
Private Government Agency
★★★★★
"The Lilly Company has partnered with us on many different racking layouts. They are great at laying out a racking plan to help you achieve your goal, and they work with you from start to finish. The installers are quick, accurate, and easy to work with."
Derrick Bristol
Sr. Warehouse and Logistics Manager
★★★★★
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Section 179 Questions From Forklift Buyers

What are the Section 179 limits for 2026?

For tax years starting in 2026, businesses can deduct up to $2,560,000 of qualifying equipment placed in service during the year. That limit shrinks dollar for dollar once total equipment purchases pass $4,090,000 and is gone at $6,650,000. 100% bonus depreciation can cover amounts above the Section 179 limit.

Do forklifts qualify for Section 179?

Yes. Forklifts and most material handling equipment used more than 50% for business typically qualify, including attachments, batteries and chargers, pallet jacks, racking and dock equipment. Confirm your specific purchase with your tax professional.

Does used equipment qualify?

Yes. Used forklifts and equipment qualify as long as they're new to your business and meet the same rules as new equipment.

Can I finance the equipment and still take the deduction?

Financed purchases and capital leases, such as $1 buyout leases, can qualify for the full deduction in the year the equipment is placed in service, even if you haven't paid it off. Operating leases generally don't qualify, because you don't own the equipment.

What is the deadline for a 2026 deduction?

The equipment must be purchased and placed in service by December 31, 2026. That means delivered, installed if needed, and ready to use. Ordering it by December 31 isn't enough, so plan around delivery time.

What's the difference between Section 179 and bonus depreciation?

Section 179 is capped at $2,560,000 for 2026 and can't be more than your business's taxable income. Bonus depreciation is 100% for qualifying equipment acquired after January 19, 2025, and has no dollar cap or income limit. Many businesses use both, and the calculator above combines them.

How long is a forklift depreciated without Section 179?

Under the regular MACRS schedule, forklifts are usually depreciated over five or seven years, depending on how your business is classified. Section 179 and bonus depreciation let you write off the full cost in the first year instead. Your tax professional can confirm which schedule applies to you.

How accurate is the calculator?

It gives an estimate using the 2026 IRS limits and the tax rate you choose. Your actual savings depend on your business's income, entity type and state taxes, so review the numbers with your tax professional before you buy.