5 advantages of a home based business

5 Tax Advantages of a Home-Based Business

The perks of a home-based business are many: freedom, independence, tax advantages ... yes, tax advantages. Here are some tax advantages that your home based business may qualify for.

1. Home Office

The home office is one of the best-known tax advantages for a home based business, and for good reason. You can deduct a percentage of most household bills (mortgage or rent, utilities, property taxes, insurance, phone and Internet bills) based on the percentage of your house that is represented by your home office.

It's important to accurately calculate the square footage of your home office, and if possible, to devote a separate room to your home office. IRS publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business, is helpful in determining details on home office deductions.

2. Office Expenses

Any improvements or repairs to your home office are deductible as business expenses. For instance, if you paint your home office, the costs are deductible. However, these improvements must be related to the office itself. Landscaping expenses, for example, are not deductible, even if they are for landscaping outside of the home office.

3. Business Expenses

Many home based business expenses are tax deductible. A partial list includes:

• traveling and meal expenses related to business(check with the IRS for specific guidelines on deduction limits)

• transportation used for business purposes - you can deduct mileage traveled for business at a per-mile amount

• tax preparation fees for your home based business

• education expenses for classes you take to improve your business skills

• software purchased to use for your business

4. Other Expenses

All the items you need for your business - beads for your jewelry business, fabric for your dressmaking business, a computer for your tutoring business - are deductible as business expenses. Depending on your type of business, these can add up quickly.

5. Family Employees

Hire your responsible teenage son to keep inventory for your business, or your teenage daughter to walk dogs for your dog-sitting business. This results in an additional business expense deduction for you, as well as income for your child. Be sure to document all the hours worked by family members (or any employee you hire) in case you are ever audited.

Many home based businesses use IRS Schedule C to report income and expenses. All of the expenses listed above will be subtracted from your business income, most likely lowering your taxable income significantly (which is good, since your net income is what you will be taxed on).

*A key for home businesses is accurate record keeping. You want to be prepared to turn over a neat log of all business expenses, complete with dates, amounts and confirming documents when appropriate, in case of an audit.

With your records in hand, your home business will be in good shape to reap maximum benefit from our tax system. Use the rules to your advantage to ensure as much profit as possible for your home based business.

From Kathy, my Tax Lady and Ambassador:

You need to track mileage for anything you did with the business, including driving to training, meetings, meeting a customer or ambassador for any reason, shopping for things for your business. Your mileage should be written down in a journal/calendar/notebook. Make a quick note in the calendar in your phone where you went and why. There are actually apps available to track your mileage.

 

Keep all receipts for your meals, any supplies, business cards, copies/printing, ink cartridges, meeting refreshments, booth rental fees, electronics used for business like computer/tablet, etc,  product that you did not personally use like Decision Packs or Fast Relief Lotion you carry with you.

 

Calculate the square footage of the living quarters of the house and the square footage of your working area.

Calculate and get copies of total utilities gas & electricity, house taxes, insurance, phone bill, all amounts from time you started your business. 

 

If you use you debit card you can highlight income and expenses.