Deductions and Write-Offs

Business Expense from Refund of Previous Year

Asked Thursday, July 08, 2021 by Mark

I run a small business and a client this year, in 2021, has requested a refund of $800 for services rendered the previous year, 2020. Since I have already payed my taxes in 2020, this $800 has already been processed through my 2020 taxes, yet, that $800 is coming out of my business account THIS year in 2021. Is this considered a business expense?

CPA Answer:

Yes and no.

Technically, I would code it to a contra-revenue account, something like Sales Returns and Allowances (that would be a general ledger account for a business that sells products). So you would debit or increase that account on the income statement and credit or decrease your bank balance on the balance sheet.

The effect would be that it would lower your profit (bottom line). So in that sense, it’s like a business expense, but it’s not actually an expense, it’s a reduction to overall revenue.

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Deductions and Write-Offs

How to file taxes for 3rd party delivery

Asked Wednesday, June 16, 2021 by Stan

If I work for multiple delivery apps (DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats) does the IRS consider them separate businesses or one business? In other words would I have to file 3 schedule C's one for each app or just one schedule C for all three since they're closely related?

CPA Answer:

Because DoorDash, GrubHub, and Uber Eats are all online food ordering and delivery platforms, you’re basically doing the same activity, just for different companies. Therefore, IRS will consider them one business. You should file just one (1) Schedule C for all three activities. On the other hand, if you were also doing a completely different activity, such as landscaping, you would need to file two (2) separate Schedules C, one for the online food delivery activity and one for the landscaping work. May you have a successful and safe business!

Answer Provided by: Adam Dickreiter Adam Dickreiter

Auto & Truck Expenses

2018 - Luxury Automobile Depreciation Limits

Asked Monday, December 24, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Section 280F limits the ยง179 expensing and depreciation deductions (including bonus depreciation) with respect to certain passenger automobiles.

For passenger automobiles placed into service after December 31, 2017 the maximum amount of allowable depreciation is increased to $10,000 for the first year;
$16,000 for the second year; $9,600 for the third year; and $5,760 for the fourth and later years. Each of these amounts will be indexed for inflation in years after 2018.

The maximum first-year bonus depreciation (which was scheduled to reduce to $6,400 in 2018 and $4,800 in 2019) will remain at $8,000.

For property placed into service after December 31, 2017, qualified leasehold improvement, qualified restaurant and qualified retail improvement property will be subject to a 15-year recovery period and straight-line depreciation.
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Itemized/Standard Deduction

2018-Itemized deductions-medical expenses

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

For tax years beginning after December 31, 2016 and before January 1, 2019, medical expenses, for all taxpayers, are deductible to the extent that they exceed 7.5% of AGI.

In addition, the AMT preference related to medical expenses is eliminated.
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Mileage Rate Deductions

2018-IRS mileage allowance

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

The IRS standard business mileage rate for 2018 is 54.5 cents a mile
.
The rate for medical expense and moving expense for certain military personnel deductions is 18 cents a mile.

For charitable volunteers the mileage rate is unchanged at 14 cents a mile.
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Itemized/Standard Deduction

2018-Itemized deductions-Gambling losses

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Gambling losses remain deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction (not subject to the 2% limitation) to the extent of gambling winnings.
,br> The Act provides that all deductions for expenses incurred in carrying out wagering transactions, and not just gambling losses, are limited to the extent of gambling winnings.
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Itemized/Standard Deduction

2018- Standard Deduction

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

The Act increases the base standard deduction from the inflation adjusted levels that applied in 2017 to:

$12,000 for Single, Qualifying widower and Married filing separately taxpayers.

$24,000 for married taxpayers filing Joint returns,

$18,000 for taxpayers filing as Head of Household.

The additional standard deduction available to taxpayers who are age 65 or older and or blind remain unchanged.
For 2018 the additional amount is $1,300 for married taxpayers and $1,600 for unmarried taxpayers.
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Itemized/Standard Deduction

2018-Itemized deductions-Deduction limits for long-term care premiums

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

The maximum amount of age-based long-term care premiums that can be included as deductible medical expenses for 2018 (subject to the AGI floor is $420.

If you are age 40 or younger at the end of 2018; $780 for those age 41 through 50; $1,560 for those age 51 through 60; $4,160 for those age 61 through 70; and $5,200 for those over age 70.
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Itemized/Standard Deduction

2018-Itemized deductions-$10,000 State Property & Income tax Limitation

Asked Thursday, December 20, 2018 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

The combination of residential property taxes and Income or sales taxes is capped at $10,000.

Property taxes remain fully deductible for taxpayers in a business or for-profit activity, so taxes paid on rental realty can be taken in full on Schedule E.
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