In recent years the Courts have handed down a number of decisions concerning the classification and treatment of capital expenditures under sections 8-1 and 40-880 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. This presentation examines these decisions closely and consider their implications in the characterisation of other outgoings that fall close to the line between capital/revenue such as labour costs. The presentation also examines the effectiveness of section 40-880 in giving effect to its underlying purpose of allowing deductions for blackhole expenditure.