facebook

Blog Post

Top Small Business Tax Deductions:Get Every Deduction Allowed!

Renee Daggett • May 14, 2020

All savvy business owners know how valuable deductions can be to their company's bottom line. Lower income generally means a lower tax bill, so it's important for entrepreneurs to maximize their business expenses to reap the benefits of their income tax return. Most expenses incurred as a cost of operating a business are deductible, but knowing which expenses you cannot deduct is crucial to keeping you out of hot water, should you ever get audited

Let’s start with understanding how business expenses are defined according to the Internal Revenue Service. To be deductible, a business expense must be both “ordinary and necessary.” An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your industry, while a necessary expense must be considered helpful and appropriate for your business. There might be an expense that is ordinary and necessary for a manufacturer, but it might not be ordinary and necessary for a consultant. Do a gut check – if you can imagine sitting across from an IRS auditor, could you explain how a deduction would be ordinary and necessary for your business?

What Can You Deduct?

Here are some examples of expenses often deducted:

  • Advertising and Promotion
  • Accounting Fees
  • Auto Expenses - based upon percentage upon for business
  • Bank Charges
  • Business Gifts - has limitations
  • Continuing Education
  • Employee Benefits
  • Insurance - liability, worker's compensation, medical
  • Interest
  • Janitorial
  • Legal Fees
  • Licenses
  • Meals - subject to limitations
  • Office Supplies
  • Outside Services - contractors require 1099's
  • Parking and Tolls Fees
  • Payroll Expenses
  • Postage
  • Printing
  • Rent Expense
  • Security
  • Telephone and Internet Expenses
  • Travel - lodging, car rentals, airfare, tips, dry cleaning
  • Utilities
  • Website Expenses


What You Can't Deduct?

The following costs are off limits as a business expense deduction on your tax return:

Capital Costs – You must capitalize (or depreciate), rather than deduct, some costs. These costs are a part of your investment in your business and are called capital expenses. Costs you capitalize include business start-up expenses, business assets and improvements. Rules have recently changed as of January 1, 2014 that allows taxpayers to depreciate any assets purchased over the $500 amount, UNLESS they have a written plan which will increase that amount to $2500 or more.

Personal Expenses – Generally, you can’t deduct personal, living or family expenses. However, if you have an expense for something that is used partly for business and partly for personal purposes, you can deduct the business part.

Fines and Penalties – You can’t deduct the fine you paid for not estimating your taxes last year or underpayment penalties.

Political Contributions – You can’t deduct contributions your business made to a political party or a candidate. This includes lobbying or campaign event costs.

Hobby Losses – These are expenses that create a loss in an activity that is not deemed to be a business. The IRS has guidelines on whether your activity can be considered a business.

Club Dues – If you belong to a country club, social club, or fitness facility, your dues are not a deductible business expense. This is true even if you take clients or customers there.

Life Insurance – insurance for owners can be limited or not deductible.

Commuting Costs – The IRS says that traveling from home to work is not a deductible business expense. However , you can deduct travel for business from home to meet customers or travel between business locations.

Business Gifts Over $25 – You can deduct no more than $25 for business gifts you give directly or indirectly to any one person during the tax year, regardless of the purpose.

Business Clothing – Costs of buying clothes to wear to work are not deductible. The only exclusion to this is expenses for uniforms. Basically, if you can wear it outside of work, it’s not deductible.
Contact your tax preparer to confirm for your specific situation.

Deadline for businesses filing a BOI
February 19, 2025
The BOI reporting deadline has been extended to March 21, 2025, but more changes may be coming. Stay informed on the latest updates, compliance requirements, and what your business needs to do now. Read more on AdminBooks.
Computer screen with
February 5, 2025
Protect your QuickBooks Online account from fraud by enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA). Follow our step-by-step guide to secure your financial data today.
January 24, 2025
The Supreme Court has ruled to reinstate BOI Reporting.
January 20, 2025
The recent wildfires in Los Angeles County have devastated communities, leaving thousands dealing with property loss, displacement, and financial uncertainty. In response, both the IRS and the State of California have granted tax deadline extensions and financial relief to help individuals and businesses recover.
January 7, 2025
The new year is here, and with it comes an important deadline for business owners: January 31, 2025. If you’ve paid independent contractors, service providers, or freelancers $600 or more in 2024, you may need to file a 1099 form for them. With the deadline just weeks away, now is the time to get organized. Filing your 1099s on time not only avoids penalties but also keeps your business in good standing.
December 30, 2024
The requirements for filing Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) have shifted yet again. As of December 26, 2024, BOI filing is not currently required, following an order from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that restored an injunction against enforcing the CTA. However, this situation remains fluid and could change on short notice.
A reminder for end of the year accounting tasks for business owners
By Renee Daggett November 13, 2024
The end of the year is fast approaching! It’s time to wrap up those final tasks that can make a big difference in reducing stress and preparing your business for tax season. Here’s a handy checklist to help you complete important end-of-year to-dos: Record Your Vehicle’s Odometer Reading Note the odometer reading for any vehicles used for business. This is essential for calculating your business versus personal mileage usage. Ideally, you have a mileage log, but at the very least, an end-of-year reading will help determine your annual total. Count Your Inventory If your business holds inventory, you’re required to do a year-end count and record its value. This ensures accurate records for taxes and helps you start the new year on track. Collect W-9s from Vendors Check if you’ve paid any contractors or vendors over $600 throughout the year, as you’ll need to issue a 1099-NEC form for them or a 1099-MISC for rent or attorney payments. The IRS provides free forms (call 1-800-829-3676), but be sure to order early as they can take a couple of weeks to arrive. Back Up Your Data Make sure to back up all your data, especially financial records. Double-check that backups are copying correctly and consider keeping a second backup for added security. Verify Payroll Tax Rates For businesses with payroll, check if your state’s employment tax rates have changed for the upcoming year. You should have received a letter with any updated rates by early December. Send them to your payroll processing team ASAP. Copy Thermal Receipts Many receipts, like those from gas stations and office supply stores, are printed on thermal paper, which can fade over time. Make copies of these receipts, as the IRS requires readable details, not just credit card statements, in case of an audit. Schedule Corporate Minutes If applicable, make note of your corporate meeting dates for the coming year. Corporate minutes are often required annually, so it’s helpful to mark them in your calendar now. Review and Update Your Business Plan Reflect on your business goals. What are your revenue projections for 2024? Consider how they compare to 2023, and think about strategies to boost profits and streamline operations in the year ahead. Set a Closing Date in QuickBooks In QuickBooks, set a closing date and password to lock down your financial records, helping ensure accuracy and security for the year-end. Review Accounts Receivable and Payable Check your outstanding invoices and follow up with any clients who haven’t paid yet. Also, settle any bills you owe to maintain accurate records and cash flow. Assess Estimated Tax Payments Review your quarterly estimated tax payments to ensure they’re accurate. Making an extra payment by the end of the year can help avoid penalties and reduce next year’s tax burden. Evaluate Your Tax Deductions Look for any additional expenses you can deduct this year, like office supplies or software subscriptions. You may also want to contribute to retirement plans to maximize deductions. Analyze Business Expenses Go through your expenses to identify any unnecessary costs you could reduce or cut in the coming year. This can improve profitability and efficiency. Renew Business Licenses and Permits Check if any licenses or permits are expiring soon and renew them in advance. This helps avoid penalties and interruptions in business operations. Review and Update Employee Benefits Review your employee benefit plans, such as health insurance and retirement contributions, to ensure they’re competitive and compliant with regulations. Evaluate Your Financial Goals and Set New Ones Look at your business’s financial performance and set realistic goals for the next year. Whether it’s increasing revenue, reducing costs, or expanding services, setting measurable goals can help guide your strategy. Completing these tasks will help your business start the new year in a stronger position and make tax season that much smoother.
November 11, 2024
For businesses where tips and gratuities are common—such as salons, spas, or other service industries—knowing how to record these amounts correctly is essential. Tips need to be accurately recorded to ensure employees are paid properly and taxes are managed. Here’s a simple guide on handling tips in QuickBooks Online (QBO), with options to make your process as smooth as possible.
Grandparents learning about the tax liabilities of investing in their grand children.
September 4, 2024
Investing in your grandchild's future can be one of the most rewarding ways to secure their financial well-being. Whether you're contributing to a 529 College Savings Plan or setting up a UGMA/UTMA account, understanding the tax implications is key to maximizing your investment. Learn about gift tax exclusions, how to avoid the Kiddie Tax, and tips for using tax-advantaged accounts. This guide will help you make smart decisions for long-term growth while minimizing tax burdens. Discover how to invest wisely in your grandchildren's future! Read our complete guide now.
By Renee Daggett August 25, 2024
Want to save money in taxes WITHOUT working harder? One way is to shift income from a higher bracket taxpayer to a lower one or even a zero rate-bracket. Let me give you an example of how this can work.
More Posts
Share by: