Gray Area Tax Deductions: If Your Business Needs It - Why Is It A Gray Area Deduction?

This week, I've been inundated with clients asking about Gray Area Tax Deductions. What?

It appears my local competitor has determined that certain business deductions are "gray area" and won't risk a red flag from IRS to take the deductions. And I'm still sitting back asking myself what-the-heck?

IT Business

If you need to make a purchase for your business, it's an authentic need, you purchased the item, you are using the item, and you have a receipt - how is it a "gray area deduction"?

Gray Area Tax Deductions: If Your Business Needs It - Why Is It A Gray Area Deduction?

Some of these so called, gray area deductions were listed as:

Calculators (because the client has a computer)Daytimer (because the client could use the computer)Coffee Grinder (ground coffee is cheaper)Television (used for training videos in the office - considered 'entertainment')Business Cards (because client changed addresses and needed to replace them)Communications Networks (because they're 'excessive')Digital Cameras (because they can be used for personal use)

If the item on your list is used for your business, and is required for you to conduct business, it is deductible. For instance, the coffee grinder - while it probably isn't necessary for my business to have a coffee grinder, I personally don't drink much coffee (rarely if ever, if I don't have clients). My clients often bring gifts of coffee beans, in small packets, as a Thank You for my services (I'm not sure where the custom came from, but it's sweet). When they come for more services, I take a handful of coffee beans, grind them up, make a pot of coffee, and serve it while we do their business. It isn't a big thing, and I could probably live without the deduction, but it is a business expense.

My tax client who asked about her coffee grinder, operates a very small, but lucrative Bed and Breakfast in my hometown. Of course she serves fresh ground coffee to high end visitors in her Bed and Breakfast, so of course, the coffee grinder is deductible. Ground coffee may indeed be cheaper, but since when did IRS have a bounty on high end expenditures? IF that were the case, would there not be more Executives traveling coach?

Next time you need a piece of equipment and you have good reason to purchase it for business, remember... It's Deductible!

Gray Area Tax Deductions: If Your Business Needs It - Why Is It A Gray Area Deduction?

Jan Verhoeff manages a local Tax Office for clients, but answers questions nationwide. Her Tax Consultations are reasonably priced and solve many of your Tax Issues. If you wish to file online, do so with the assurance that you can ask a real person a real question. Contact her through her website at http://brandyourmarket.com/tax.htm for more information.

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