How to Deduct Home Business Expenses



Starting a home business, even a part-time one, is a smart idea for most people. Not only will a business provide the potential for extra money, it will also provide a variety of home business tax deductions. This means even if the business doesn't make very much, the small business tax deductions available can be used to offset your regular employment income. In addition, there is always the potential of your home business taking off, allowing you to quit the corporate rat race and be in full control of your destiny.
Benefit from Home Business Tax Deductions

The IRS is extremely accommodating to small businesses. Its mandate from the government is to offer tax incentives and support to small businesses, part-time home-based businesses included. This means that the tax code has a variety of business expenses that can be deducted from your taxes. This article will explain how to deduct and list several of the more popular home business deductions.

Small business tax deductions are taken on schedule C of the traditional 1040 tax return. These deductions are used to offset the taxable gross income on the return. What's very appealing to small, part-time home business owners is that the gross income can include salary from regular employment. This means that business losses can lower your overall tax liability quite substantially. This alone is a prime reason to start a small, home-based business. Just keep in mind, for the business tax deductions to add value, they need to exceed the standard deduction that everyone gets on their tax return. If the deductions do not reach the standard deduction threshold, it makes little sense to itemize and is smarter to use the standard deduction.

The major hurdle to deducting home business expenses is differentiating between personal and business costs. The IRS is very clear on this matter. You can not deduct personal expenses on your tax return. However, if you have expenses that are used partially for business and partially for personal use, the percentage used for business can be deducted on your tax return.
Home Businesses Deductions

Here are the three primary home business tax deductions:

Home Office: This means that the space used in your home or apartment exclusively for business can be deducted. For example, if you pay $1,000 per month for rent and have set up a home office in 25% of your space, $250 per month or $3,000 for the tax year can be deducted.

Travel, Gifts and Meals: These are great deductions. Any business-related travel can be deducted. This includes all expenses incurred on the road. However, when traveling, only 50% of meals can be deducted. Any gifts given to clients are 100% tax deductible. Just remember to keep things within reason unless you want a lot of questions from the IRS.

Automobile: Any business use of your automobile is tax-deductible. There are various ways to take advantage of these home business deductions. These include mileage and depreciation.