"Humor is reason gone mad."Groucho Marx
|
| |
Clear-A-Debt - Waht happens in a Personal Bankruptcy What Happens In A Personal Bankruptcy? Consumer Credit Counselling is often a first step, but once you realize you can't keep up with the payments, you should take action quickly. Ignoring the problem will only make it worse as creditors pile on late ...
Russ Whitney - The Real Estate Boom Russ Whitney has developed training programs, education packages and a great volume of literature in order to educate people on the best wealth-building techniques. The very same techniques that he teaches, writes and speaks of, he uses himself to add to ...
Working Out Is Not Like Doing Your Taxes Working out and taxes both have serious consequences if they are ignored. With taxes, you can focus on them only once a year, but working out is a whole different story. The ramifications of not working out might show up slower, but in the long run, ...
|
|
|
| |
Do You Qualify For Home-Based Tax Deductions?
New changes in the tax laws have made it easier than ever to claim Home Office Deductions and keep more of what you earn.
If your home is a place of business, many of your personal expenses can be deducted as business expenses resulting in lower taxes.
You may be thinking, "I have an Accountant/CPA/Tax Preparer/Tax Software who knows all about tax deductions so I don't have to know anything about them."
There are several reasons why that thinking could be costing you thousands of tax dollars. Some of those reasons are:
·Most Accountants/CPA's/Tax Preparers do not "specialize" in Home-Based Businesses and do not keep up with the ever-changing laws pertaining to them.
·You are ultimately responsible for knowing what you can and cannot deduct as business expenses. Why? YOU are accountable to the IRS for your deductions, not the tax preparer.
··If you pay someone to do your taxes you still need to know what you can deduct so that you can gather all relevant paperwork.
··The most compelling reason: Getting the greatest benefit from your deductions.
To qualify for these deductions you must meet 2 conditions, which most, if not all, Internet Marketers meet.
Condition 1: Do you work as an Internet marketer out of your home (on your "home computer)?
To qualify for deducting expenses related to using a workspace for business in your home, your home must be
Your "principal place of business " or you must use the space only to earn your business income.
·Use it on a regular and ongoing basis to meet your clients, customers, or patients.
AND
Condition 2: Are you in business to make a profit?
Whether you made a profit or not is immaterial. Even if you lost money but intended to make a profit these deductions are still available to you.
If you answered yes to both of these questions then you do own a Home-Based Business and as such you are qualified to deduct Business Assets, Direct and Indirect Expenses.
Business Assets include business equipment such as computer, fax machines, business furniture such as desk (your dining room table for instance), desk chair and filing cabinets. These are 100% deductible if they are used "exclusively" for business purposes.
If these assets are not used "exclusively' for business the amount you can deduct is proportionally related to how much these things are used in your business. It is possible to deduct a portion of your living room, sofa, DVD player etc if you meet certain conditions.
Direct Expenses are those directly related to conducting your business. This would include office supplies, telephone service,, cellular phones, ISP service, hosting, advertising etc. Direct expenses are generally 100% deductible.
Indirect Expenses include such things as rent on your home, utilities including heating and air conditioning and general repairs such as replacing a roof or repainting the exterior of your home.
These are authorized legal deductions passed into law specifically for Home-Based Businesses by congress.
If you use your home for business purposes, many of your personal expenses can legally be converted into deductible business expenses including utilities such as heat and electricity, cleaning materials, house insurance and property taxes.
Learn all you can about what you can deduct and you will consistently save thousands on your income tax each year.
"I'm proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money." -Arthur Godfrey
About the Author ©2004 By Karin Workman, A 30-year veteran Home-Based Business Owner who specializes in Tax Preparation for Home-Based Businesses. Karin also wrote the Hot New Ecourse: "Reap the Rewards!" Designed to help you save tax dollars and put more money into YOUR pocket. The course is Free so do yourself a favor and subscribe today. http://reaptherewards.businessoppsunlimited.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
5 Tax Rules That WorkForbesBut at risk of breaking my personal rule not to impose them, you will find five tax-driven directives that I am able to endorse but for a few anomalous circumstances. In my previous post, I called upon the mantra “Don't let the tax tail wag the dog!and more » |
|
COLUMN-Taxes: How low can you go?-Chrystia FreelandReutersBy Chrystia Freeland NEW YORK May 24 (Reuters) - Are your taxes too high? When Gallup asked that question in April, tax month in the United States, 46 percent said they were. An additional 47 percent said their taxes were "about right. |
|