Category Archives: Hobby

TaxMama’s® TaxQuips Is Your Business a Hobby?

Let me explain why this is important from a tax reporting perspective.

A business can deduct all its legitimate operating expenses from the business’ sales and income – either on a Schedule C, or a business entity return (partnership, corporaton, etc.) and deduct losses, as appropriate.
However, with a hobby, you must report all your income (on Schedule 1) – but you may not deduct your opertating expenses at all. Nowhere. Not on any form. The only thing you may deduct are your cost of goods sold. In other words, hobbyists that lose money don’t get to deduct expenses OR losses.

TaxMama s TaxQuips Travel Writing

Today TaxMama® hears from Excel in the TaxQuips Forum with an interesting question. He asks how to write off his travel. You can read my answer to him in the TaxQuips Forum. But what I’d like to do today is to provide more general tips about how be a legitimate travel writer – for tax […]

Hobby v Business

Today TaxMama® hears from Susan in the TaxQuips Forum, with an interesting twist.  “I am an analyst with a high-tech firm and I teach one course a year at the University Extension in our area. While the course topic is related to my field, I don’t consider myself to be “in the business” of teaching. […]

eBay Sales for Friends

Today TaxMama® hears from Judecat in the TaxQuips Forum who is helping a sick friend. Without going into detail – “Judecat is selling his personal treasures on eBay because he is too ill and doesn’t have access to the Internet. She wants to know the tax implications.”

Taxes for Helping a Friend

Today TaxMama hears from Gayle in the TaxQuips Forum with a common misconception. She asks, “Do I have to become a business to write off expenses on my taxes? I make a product for a friend of mine. I buy all the materials. I do this to help their family business. They pay me for […]

Vacant Rental Property

Today TaxMama hears from Ed in the TaxQuips Forum who wants to know. “Can I still deduct my expenses on a rental house which sat vacant for 2010 on Schedule E?” 

TaxMama’s Tax Roundtable – December Session

Note:  TaxMama’s Tax Roundtable is a monthly live discussion open to all TaxMama Family Members and above, and all TaxMama’s EA Exam and Solving the Tax Puzzle Students. Don’t you wish you were here?http://klassroom.co/files/migration/new/personal-statements-for-law-school.html REPLAY today’s session below – you can listen and SEE the session and forms

TaxMama’s In Depth Tax Web Workshop for Writers, Journalists and Bloggers

When:             August 13, 2010                         10:00 am – Noon PT Where:            Online in TaxMama’s Conference Room Cost:               $50.00                        Discounts:             $20 discount to members of writers groups –   Check with your association for discount code  CPE Credits:            2 hours for Enrolled Agents   How to Register  –   Include the name of your writers […]

Key IRS Audios for Your Small Business

Starting a small business can be confusing. IRS provides free audio tools and information to guide you.