Will Section 174 only affect software companies?

Section 174 will affect any industry and company that performs research but the software industry will likely take the biggest hit. The TCJA specifically called out software development expenses incurred in the tax years starting after December 31, 2021, as no longer tax deductible under Rev. Proc. 2000-50. Instead, these costs must be classified as Section 174 expenses and amortized as such. 

Therefore, any software development company that previously deducted its onshore and offshore software development related expenses will now have to capitalize and amortize these costs over five years, for domestic expenses, and fifteen years, for international expenses. Software businesses that retire, dispose, or abandon a software development related project will no longer be able to fully amortize the remaining capitalized costs.

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