Category Archives: Business Expenses

Outsourcing Payroll and Third Party Payers

   Courtesy of the IRS [TaxMama Note: payrolls and payroll tax deposits tend to case THE most problems for small businesses. Somtimes, outsourcing is your best option.] Employer’s Outsourcing Payroll Responsibilities Many employers outsource some of their payroll and related tax duties to third-party payroll service providers. They can help assure filing deadlines and deposit […]

New Business Taxation

  Today TaxMama hears from Bradley in the TaxQuips Forum with a business idea. “I’m thinking about starting a business like Groupon. My partners and I are planning on sharing the cost of the coupon with the company offering it. We want to know if we will be taxed on the full amount, or just […]

Tax Deductions for Scuba Diving

  Article reprinted with the permission of W. Murray Bradford, CPA   QUESTION:  I sell property and casualty insurance in Florida. I also like to scuba dive. I would like your opinion on whether or not the following is deductible. I  spent five hours with a prospect. First we went on a dive, then we […]

IRS Increases 2011 Mileage Rates

 Courtesy of IRS https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/a-11-40.pdf The following standard mileage rates will apply: January 1 – June 30:  51 cents per mile for business miles driven July 1 – December 31:  55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven January 1 – June 30: 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes  July 1 – December […]

Kicking Back Commissions

Today TaxMama hears from SB in the TaxQuips Forum with a common problem. “As a real estate professional, I had to kick back some commissions to a buyer to close a sale. But I am getting the 1099-MISC for the full commission. Can I give the buyer a 1099-MISC for the commission I paid her? […]

Annual S Corp Meeting

Today TaxMama hears from Alyx in the TaxQuips Forum who is creative. “If you have a wife and husband S corporation, how can you write off an 8-day Caribbean cruise as a business expense for an annual meeting?https://www.pharmalucence.com/wp-content/languages/new/sildenafil.html   Is it true that if you have the meeting on one of the ports of call […]

Double Reimbursement

Today TaxMama hears from Doug in the TaxQuips Forum who is arguing with his work buddies. “We are a group of field technicians that work entirely out of our home and have no local office to report to. We drive directly from our home to a customer site, and the visit usually is completed that […]

IRS Marks Small Business Week by Showcasing Tools, Resources; Spotlights Tax Benefits Available in 2011

WASHINGTON ― During Small Business Week, May 16-20, the Internal Revenue Service encourages those who are self-employed or own a small business to take advantage of certain tax benefits and learn about IRS resources that can help them meet their federal tax obligations. “When you’re running a business, you don’t need to be a tax […]

Sales Tax Expense

Today TaxMama hears from Sirian in the TaxQuips Forum with a concern. He says, “I am an Internet marketer & web developer.  I have always collected state sales tax for my clients in my state (Texas).  When filing my Federal taxes I usually include the full income (including all state sales tax collected) in the reported […]

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?” 

Legal Fees on Cancelled Debt

Today TaxMama hears from Carole in the TaxQuips Forum, with this interesting question. “Can a person deduct legal fees paid to lawyers that negotiated their debt (both personal & business credit cards as well as a mortgage on their personal home) as an itemized deduction? I’ve read that legal fees for collecting or producing taxable income […]