Year-End Security Budget Guide: Using 2026 Dollars & Section 179 Before December 31

If your business has budget left for 2026 or you're planning capital spending for 2027, a commercial security upgrade is one of the smartest places to put those dollars before December 31 — and the tax code may help you pay for it. At Michigan Security Systems, we help businesses across Michigan time their security investments to make the most of year-end budgets and the Section 179 deduction. Here's how it works, in plain language.

Related: see what's coming so you invest in the right things — our 2027 commercial security trends guide.

Why Year-End Is the Right Time to Invest in Security

• Use-it-or-lose-it budgets. Many businesses have remaining 2026 operating or capital budget that doesn't roll over. A security upgrade turns that into a lasting asset instead of letting it expire.
• Potential tax savings. Security and fire-alarm equipment can qualify for the Section 179 deduction, letting you write off qualifying purchases in the year you put them in service (more below).
• Beat the January rush — and price increases. Industry reporting points to continued upward pressure on hardware costs from tariffs and supply-chain factors heading into 2027. Buying now can lock in today's pricing.
• Start the new year protected. A system installed in December is working for you on January 1 — not stuck on a spring to-do list.

Section 179: How Businesses Can Write Off Security Equipment

Section 179 of the IRS tax code lets businesses deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment in the year it's placed in service, rather than depreciating it over many years. Since 2018, the definition of qualifying property has included security systems and fire-alarm systems installed in non-residential commercial buildings — which can include commercial cameras, access control, and alarm systems.

In practical terms, that can mean a meaningful portion of your security investment comes back to you at tax time instead of being spread out over years. The deduction limits are generous — well into the millions of dollars of equipment for 2026 — so for a typical commercial security project the full cost is usually well within the cap.

The key requirement: the equipment generally must be purchased and placed in service by December 31 to count for that tax year. That's why timing the install matters — and why waiting until late December can be cutting it close.

What a Security Investment Actually Costs

So you can budget realistically, here's the honest range we see for commercial work in Michigan:

• Cameras: roughly $400–$1,500 per camera installed, depending on resolution, features, and mounting.
• Access control: roughly $1,200–$2,000 per door installed.
• Typical complete systems: most land between $2,500 and $18,000; a multi-building campus can run $15,000–$30,000+.

For a deeper breakdown, see our guides to commercial camera costs and access-control costs in Michigan, and our forward look at what security will cost in 2027.

How to Protect Your Bottom Line in 2027

A good security system doesn't just sit there as a cost — it protects revenue and can reduce expenses:

• Lower insurance premiums. Many commercial insurers offer credits for monitored alarm and camera systems — sometimes enough to offset part of the investment over time.
• Reduced theft, shrink, and fraud. Cameras and access control deter internal and external loss, and provide the footage that resolves disputes and claims.
• Fewer liability surprises. Clear video and access logs protect you in slip-and-fall claims, employee disputes, and false accusations.
• Lower operating friction. Modern access control ends the cost of re-keying and lost keys, and remote management saves staff time.

Michigan Security Systems is not a tax advisor, and this article is general information, not tax advice. Section 179 rules, limits, and eligibility change and depend on your specific situation — confirm how the deduction applies to your business with a qualified CPA or tax professional before relying on it.