OATC Portland Chapter Spring Seminar

Transcription

1 OATC Portland Chapter Spring Seminar Schedule A, Itemized Deductions Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss Richard K. Davey Enrolled Agent, Licensed Tax Consultant Disclaimer This information is presented as educational information. It is designed to make you smarter and to make you a better tax person but it is not good enough to be quoted as tax law. 1

2 Schedule A Medical and Dental Expenses You generally can deduct only the part of your medical and dental expenses that exceeds 10% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38. However, if either you or your spouse was born before January 2, 1950, you can deduct the part of your medical and dental expenses that exceeds 7.5% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38. See the instructions for line 3. Medical and Dental Payments You Can Deduct Insurance premiums for medical and dental care Prescription medicines or insulin. Acupuncturists, chiropractors, dentists, eye doctors, medical doctors, occupational therapists, osteopathic doctors, physical therapists, podiatrists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts (medical care only), and psychologists. Medical examinations, X-ray and laboratory services, insulin treatment, and whirlpool baths your doctor ordered. Diagnostic tests, such as a full-body scan, pregnancy test, or blood sugar test kit. Nursing help (including your share of the employment taxes paid). If you paid someone to do both nursing and housework, you can deduct only the cost of the nursing help. Hospital care (including meals and lodging), clinic costs, and lab fees. Qualified long-term care services (see Pub. 502). The supplemental part of Medicare insurance (Medicare B). The premiums you pay for Medicare Part D insurance. A program to stop smoking and for prescription medicines to alleviate nicotine withdrawal. 2

3 A weight-loss program as treatment for a specific disease (including obesity) diagnosed by a doctor. Medical treatment at a center for drug or alcohol addiction. Medical aids such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, braces, crutches, wheelchairs, and guide dogs, including the cost of maintaining them. Surgery to improve defective vision, such as laser eye surgery or radial keratotomy. Lodging expenses (but not meals) while away from home to receive medical care in a hospital or a medical care facility related to a hospital, provided there was no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel. Do not deduct more than $50 a night for each eligible person. Ambulance service and other travel costs to get medical care. If you used your own car, you can claim what you spent for gas and oil to go to and from the place you received the care; or you can claim 23.5 cents per mile. Add parking and tolls to the amount you claim under either method. Cost of breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation. Limit on long-term care premiums you can deduct. The amount you can deduct for qualified long-term care insurance contracts (as defined in Pub. 502) depends on the age, at the end of 2014, of the person for whom the premiums were paid. See the following chart for details. IF the person was, at the end of 2014, age... THEN the most you can deduct is or under $ $ $ 1, $ 3,720 3

4 IF the person was, at the end of 2014, age or older $ 4,660 THEN the most you can deduct is... Examples of Medical and Dental Payments You Cannot Deduct The cost of diet food. Cosmetic surgery unless it was necessary to improve a deformity related to a congenital abnormality, an injury from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease. The Medicare tax on your wages and tips or the Medicare tax paid as part of the self-employment tax or household employment taxes. Nursing care for a healthy baby Illegal operations or drugs. Imported drugs not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This includes foreign-made versions of U.S.-approved drugs manufactured without FDA approval. Nonprescription medicines, other than insulin, (including nicotine gum and certain nicotine patches). Travel your doctor told you to take for rest or a change. Funeral, burial, or cremation costs. State and Local Income Taxes Taxes You Paid If you elect to deduct state and local income taxes, you must check box a on line 5. Include on this line the state and local income taxes listed next. State and local income taxes withheld from your salary during Your Form(s) W-2 will show these amounts. Forms W-2G, 1099-G, 1099-R, and 1099-MISC may also show state and local income taxes withheld. 4

5 State and local income taxes paid in 2014 for a prior year, such as taxes paid with your 2013 state or local income tax return. Do not include penalties or interest. State and local estimated tax payments made during 2014, including any part of a prior year refund that you chose to have credited to your 2014 state or local income taxes. Mandatory contributions you made to the California, New Jersey, or New York Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund, Rhode Island Temporary Disability Benefit Fund, or Washington State Supplemental Workmen's Compensation Fund. Mandatory contributions to the Alaska, California, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania state unemployment fund. Mandatory contributions to state family leave programs, such as the New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (FLI) program and the California Paid Family Leave program. State and Local General Sales Taxes If you elect to deduct state and local general sales taxes, you must check box b on line 5. To figure your deduction, you can use either your actual expenses or the optional sales tax tables. Actual Expenses Optional Sales Tax Tables Instead of using your actual expenses, you can use the 2014 Optional State Sales Tax Table and the 2014 Optional Local Sales Tax Tables for Certain Local Jurisdictions at the end of these instructions to figure your state and local general sales tax deduction. You may also be able to add the state and local general sales taxes paid on certain specified items. 1. A motor vehicle (including a car, motorcycle, motor home, recreational vehicle, sport utility vehicle, truck, van, and off-road vehicle). Also include any state and local general sales taxes paid for a leased motor vehicle. If the state sales tax rate on these items is higher than the general sales tax rate, only include the amount of tax you would have paid at the general sales tax rate. 5

6 2. An aircraft or boat, if the tax rate was the same as the general sales tax rate. 3. A home (including a mobile home or prefabricated home) or substantial addition to or major renovation of a home, but only if the tax rate was the same as the general sales tax rate and any of the following applies. Real Estate Taxes a. Your state or locality imposes a general sales tax directly on the sale of a home or on the cost of a substantial addition or major renovation. b. You purchased the materials to build a home or substantial addition or to perform a major renovation and paid the sales tax directly. c. Under your state law, your contractor is considered your agent in the construction of the home or substantial addition or the performance of a major renovation. The contract must state that the contractor is authorized to act in your name and must follow your directions on construction decisions. In this case, you will be considered to have purchased any items subject to a sales tax and to have paid the sales tax directly. Include taxes (state, local, or foreign) you paid on real estate you own that was not used for business, but only if the taxes are assessed uniformly at a like rate on all real property throughout the community, and the proceeds are used for general community or governmental purposes. Pub. 530 explains the deductions homeowners can take. Do not include the following amounts on line 6. Itemized charges for services to specific property or persons (for example, a $20 monthly charge per house for trash collection, a $5 charge for every 1,000 gallons of water consumed, or a flat charge for mowing a lawn that had grown higher than permitted under a local ordinance). Charges for improvements that tend to increase the value of your property (for example, an assessment to build a new sidewalk). The cost of a property improvement is added to the basis of the property. 6

7 However, a charge is deductible if it is used only to maintain an existing public facility in service (for example, a charge to repair an existing sidewalk, and any interest included in that charge). Personal Property Taxes Other Taxes Taxes paid to a foreign country or U.S. possession. Taxes You Cannot Deduct Federal income and most excise taxes. Social security, Medicare, federal unemployment (FUTA), and railroad retirement (RRTA) taxes. Customs duties. Federal estate and gift taxes. Certain state and local taxes, including: tax on gasoline, car inspection fees, assessments for sidewalks or other improvements to your property, tax you paid for someone else, and license fees (marriage, driver's, dog, etc.). You can elect to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes. You cannot deduct both. Interest You Paid Whether your interest expense is treated as investment interest, personal interest, or business interest depends on how and when you used the loan proceeds. Home Mortgage Interest A home mortgage is any loan that is secured by your main home or second home. It includes first and second mortgages, home equity loans, and refinanced mortgages. 7

8 A home can be a house, condominium, cooperative, mobile home, boat, or similar property. It must provide basic living accommodations including sleeping space, toilet, and cooking facilities. Limit on home mortgage interest. If you took out any mortgages after October 13, 1987, your deduction may be limited. If you took out any mortgages after October 13, 1987, and used the proceeds for purposes other than to buy, build, or improve your home, and all of these mortgages totaled over $100,000 at any time during The limit is $50,000 if married filing separately. An example of this type of mortgage is a home equity loan used to pay off credit card bills, buy a car, or pay tuition. 1. You took out any mortgages after October 13, 1987, and used the proceeds to buy, build, or improve your home, and these mortgages plus any mortgages you took out on or before October 13, 1987, totaled over $1 million at any time during The limit is $500,000 if married filing separately. Points Not Reported on Form 1098 Points are shown on your settlement statement. Points you paid only to borrow money are generally deductible over the life of the loan. If you paid off a mortgage early, deduct any remaining points in the year you paid off the mortgage. Mortgage Insurance Premiums Prepaid mortgage insurance premiums. If you paid qualified mortgage insurance premiums that are allocable to periods after 2014, you must allocate them over the shorter of: The stated term of the mortgage, or 84 months, beginning with the month the insurance was obtained. Investment Interest 8

9 Investment interest is interest paid on money you borrowed that is allocable to property held for investment. It does not include any interest allocable to passive activities or to securities that generate tax-exempt income. Gifts to Charity You can deduct contributions or gifts you gave to organizations that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific, or literary in purpose. You can also deduct what you gave to organizations that work to prevent cruelty to children or animals. To verify an organization's charitable status, you can: Check with the organization to which you made the donation. The organization should be able to provide you with verification of its charitable status. Use The on-line search tool Call our Tax Exempt/Government Entities Customer Account Services at Examples of Qualified Charitable Organizations Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, etc. Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, CARE, Girl Scouts, Goodwill Industries, Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, etc. Fraternal orders, if the gifts will be used for the purposes listed under Gifts to Charity Veterans' and certain cultural groups. Nonprofit hospitals, and organizations whose purpose is to find a cure for, or help people who have, arthritis, asthma, birth defects, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, heart disease, hemophilia, mental illness or retardation, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, tuberculosis, etc. Most nonprofit educational organizations, such as colleges, but only if your contribution is not a substitute for tuition or other enrollment fees. 9

10 Federal, state, and local governments if the gifts are solely for public purposes. Amounts You Can Deduct Contributions can be in cash, property, or out-of-pocket expenses you paid to do volunteer work for the kinds of organizations described earlier. If you drove to and from the volunteer work, you can take the actual cost of gas and oil or 14 cents a mile. Add parking and tolls to the amount you claim under either method. But do not deduct any amounts that were repaid to you. Gifts of $250 or more. You can deduct a gift of $250 or more only if you have a statement from the charitable organization showing the information in (1) and (2) next. 1. The amount of any money contributed and a description (but not value) of any property donated. 2. Whether the organization did or did not give you any goods or services in return for your contribution. If you did receive any goods or services, a description and estimate of the value must be included. If you received only intangible religious benefits (such as admission to a religious ceremony), the organization must state this, but it does not have to describe or value the benefit. You must get the statement by the date you file your return or the due date (including extensions) for filing your return, whichever is earlier. Do not attach the statement to your return. Instead, keep it for your records. Amounts You Cannot Deduct Travel expenses (including meals and lodging) while away from home, unless there was no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel. Political contributions. Dues, fees, or bills paid to country clubs, lodges, fraternal orders, or similar groups. Cost of raffle, bingo, or lottery tickets. Value of your time or services. Value of blood given to a blood bank. 10

11 Gifts to foreign organizations. But you may be able to deduct gifts to certain U.S. organizations that transfer funds to foreign charities and certain Canadian, Israeli, and Mexican charities. Other that cash contributions If you gave used items, such as clothing or furniture, deduct their fair market value at the time you gave them. Fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller when neither has to buy or sell and both are aware of the conditions of the sale. If the amount of your deduction is more than $500, you must complete and attach Form If you deduct more than $500 for a contribution of a motor vehicle, boat, or airplane, you must also attach a statement from the charitable organization to your paper return. The organization may use Form 1098-C to provide the required information. If your total deduction is over $5,000 you may also have to get appraisals of the values of the donated property. Contributions of clothing and household items. A deduction for these contributions will be allowed only if the items are in good used condition or better. However, this rule does not apply to a contribution of any single item for which a deduction of more than $500 is claimed and for which you include a qualified appraisal and Form 8283 with your tax return. Casualty and Theft Losses Complete and attach Form 4684 to figure the amount of your loss to enter on line 20. Job Expenses and Certain Miscellaneous Deductions Subject to 2% of the AGI Unreimbursed Employee Expenses Enter the total ordinary and necessary job expenses you paid for which you were not reimbursed. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your field of trade, business, or profession. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and 11

12 appropriate for your business. An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary. Use Form 2106 if either (1) or (2), next, applies. 1. You claim any travel, transportation, meal, or entertainment expenses for your job. 2. Your employer paid you for any of your job expenses that you would otherwise report on line 21. Examples of other expenses to include are: Safety equipment, small tools, and supplies needed for your job. Uniforms required by your employer that are not suitable for ordinary wear. Protective clothing required in your work, such as hard hats, safety shoes, and glasses. Physical examinations required by your employer. Dues to professional organizations and chambers of commerce. Subscriptions to professional journals. Fees to employment agencies and other costs to look for a new job in your present occupation, even if you do not get a new job. Certain business use of part of your home. For details, including limits that apply, use Certain educational expenses. Reduce your educational expenses by any tuition and fees deduction you claimed on Form 1040, line 34. Tax Preparation Fees Enter the fees you paid for preparation of your tax return, including fees paid for filing your return electronically. Other Expenses 12

13 Enter the total amount you paid to produce or collect taxable income and manage or protect property held for earning income. But do not include any personal expenses. List the type and amount of each expense on the dotted lines. If you need more space, attach a statement to your paper return showing the type and amount of each expense. Examples of expenses: Certain legal and accounting fees. Clerical help and office rent. Custodial (for example, trust account) fees. Your share of the investment expenses of a regulated investment company. Convenience fee charged by the card processor for paying your income tax (including estimated tax payments) by credit or debit card. The deduction is claimed for the year in which the fee was charged to your card. Examples of Expenses You Cannot Deduct Political contributions. Legal expenses for personal matters that do not produce taxable income. Lost or misplaced cash or property. Expenses for meals during regular or extra work hours. The cost of entertaining friends. Commuting expenses. See Pub. 529 for the definition of commuting. Travel expenses for employment away from home if that period of employment exceeds 1 year. See Pub. 529 for an exception for certain federal employees. Travel as a form of education. Expenses of attending a seminar, convention, or similar meeting unless it is related to your employment. 13

14 Club dues. Expenses of adopting a child. But you may be able to take a credit for adoption expenses. See Form 8839 and its instructions for details. Fines and penalties. Expenses of producing tax-exempt income. Other Miscellaneous Deductions Not Subject to 2% Gambling losses (gambling losses include, but are not limited to, the cost of non-winning bingo, lottery, and raffle tickets), but only to the extent of gambling winnings reported on Form 1040, line 21. Casualty and theft losses of income-producing property from Form 4684, lines 32 and 38b, or Form 4797, line 18a. Loss from other activities from Schedule K-1 (Form 1065-B), box 2. Federal estate tax on income in respect of a decedent. A deduction for amortizable bond premium (for example, a deduction allowed for a bond premium carryforward or a deduction for amortizable bond premium on bonds acquired before October 23, 1986). An ordinary loss attributable to a contingent payment debt instrument or an inflation-indexed debt instrument (for example, a Treasury Inflation- Protected Security). Deduction for repayment of amounts under a claim of right if over $3,000. Certain unrecovered investment in a pension. Impairment-related work expenses of a disabled person. 14

15 Schedule C, Profit or Loss from Business An activity qualifies as a business if your primary purpose for engaging in the activity is for income or profit and you are involved in the activity with the continuity and regularity. For example, a sporadic activity or a hobby does not qualify as a business. To report non-business activity use Form 1040 Line 21. Also use Schedule C to report wages and expenses you had as a statutory employee Information return requirements might exist if you pay wages to employees or make certain payments for fees or to nonemployee compensation or interest, rents, or royalties. Line A Describe the business or professional activity that provided your principal source of income reported on line 1. If you owned more than one business, you must complete a separate Schedule C for each business. Line B Enter on line B the six-digit code from the Principal Business or Professional Activity Line C Enter the business name, if none leave blank Line D Enter on line D the employer identification number (EIN) Line E Enter your business address. Line F Accounting Method 1, 2, or 3 Line G Material participation. For purposes of the seven material participation tests, participation generally includes any work you did in connection with an activity if you owned an interest in the activity at the time you did the work. The capacity in which you did the work does not matter. However, work is not treated as participation if it is work that an owner would not customarily do in the same type of activity and one of your main reasons for doing the work was to avoid the disallowance of losses or credits from the activity under the passive activity rules. For purposes of the passive activity rules, you materially participated in the operation of this trade or business activity during 2014 if you met any of the following seven tests. 15

16 1. You participated in the activity for more than 500 hours during the tax year. 2. Your participation in the activity for the tax year was substantially all of the participation in the activity of all individuals (including individuals who did not own any interest in the activity) for the tax year. 3. You participated in the activity for more than 100 hours during the tax year, and you participated at least as much as any other person for the tax year. This includes individuals who did not own any interest in the activity. 4. The activity is a significant participation activity for the tax year, and you participated in all significant participation activities for more than 500 hours during the year. An activity is a significant participation activity if it involves the conduct of a trade or business, you participated in the activity for more than 100 hours during the tax year, and you did not materially participate under any of the material participation tests (other than this test 4). 5. You materially participated in the activity for any 5 of the prior 10 tax years. 6. The activity is a personal service activity in which you materially participated for any 3 prior tax years. A personal service activity is an activity that involves performing personal services in the fields of health, law, engineering, architecture, accounting, actuarial science, performing arts, consulting, or any other trade or business in which capital is not a material income-producing factor. 7. Based on all the facts and circumstances, you participated in the activity on a regular, continuous, and substantial basis for more than 100 hours during the tax year. Your participation in managing the activity does not count in determining if you meet this test if any person (except you) (a) received compensation for performing management services in connection with the activity, or (b) spent more hours during the tax year than you spent performing management services in connection with the activity (regardless of whether the person was compensated for the services). Line H If you started or acquired this business in 2014; check the box on line H. Also check the box if you are reopening or restarting this business after temporarily closing it, and you did not file a 2013 Schedule C or C-EZ for this business. 16

17 Line I If you made any payment in 2014 that would require you to file any Forms 1099, check the Yes box. Otherwise, check the No box. Part I Income Line 1 Enter gross receipts from your trade or business. Statutory employees. If you received a Form W-2 and the "Statutory employee" box in box 13 of that form was checked, report your income and expenses related to that income on Schedule C or C-EZ. Enter your statutory employee income from box 1 of Form W-2 on line 1 of Schedule C or C-EZ and check the box on that line. Social security and Medicare tax should have been withheld from your earnings; as a result, you do not owe self-employment tax on these earnings. Statutory employees include full-time life insurance agents, certain agent or commission drivers and traveling salespersons, and certain homeworkers. If you had both self-employment income and statutory employee income, you must file two Schedules C. Line 2 Report your sales returns and allowances as a positive number on line 2. A sales return is a cash or credit refund you gave to customers who returned defective, damaged, or unwanted products. A sales allowance is a reduction in the selling price of products, instead of a cash or credit. Line 6 Report other income like finance reserve income, scrap sales, bad debts you recovered, interest (such as on notes and accounts receivable), state gasoline or fuel tax refunds you received in 2014 prizes and awards related to your trade or business, and other kinds of miscellaneous business income. Part II. Expenses Line 9 You can deduct the actual expenses of operating your car or truck or take the standard mileage rate. This is true even if you used your vehicle for hire (such as a taxicab). You must use actual expenses if you used five or more vehicles simultaneously in your business (such as in fleet operations). You cannot use actual expenses for a leased vehicle if you previously used the standard mileage rate for that vehicle. You can take the standard mileage rate for 2014 only if you: 17

18 Owned the vehicle and used the standard mileage rate for the first year you placed the vehicle in service, or Leased the vehicle and are using the standard mileage rate for the entire lease period. If you take the standard mileage rate: Multiply the number of business miles driven by 56 cents, and Add to this amount your parking fees and tolls. If you deduct actual expenses: Include on line 9 the business portion of expenses for gasoline, oil, repairs, insurance, license plates, etc., and Show depreciation on line 13 and rent or lease payments on line 20a. Information on your vehicle. If you claim any car and truck expenses, you must provide certain information on the use of your vehicle by completing one of the following. 1.Complete Schedule C, Part IV, or Schedule C-EZ, Part III, if (a) you are claiming the standard mileage rate, you lease your vehicle, or your vehicle is fully depreciated, and (b) you are not required to file Form 4562 for any other reason. If you used more than one vehicle during the year, attach a statement with the information requested in Schedule C, Part IV, or Schedule C-EZ, Part III, for each additional vehicle. 2. Complete Form 4562, Part V, if you are claiming depreciation on your vehicle or you are required to file Form 4562 for any other reason (see Line 13, later). Line 11 Contract labor includes payments to persons you do not treat as employees (for example, independent contractors) for services performed for your trade or business. Do not include contract labor deducted elsewhere on your return, such as contract labor includible on line 17, 21, 26, or 37. You must file Form 1099-MISC, Miscellaneous Income, to report contract labor payments of $600 or more during the year. See the Instructions for Form MISC for details. Line 13 Depreciation and section 179 expense deduction. 18

19 Line 14 Deduct contributions to employee benefit programs that are not an incidental part of a pension or profit-sharing plan included on line 19. Examples are accident and health plans, group-term life insurance, and dependent care assistance programs. Line 15 Deduct premiums paid for business insurance on line 15. Deduct on line 14 amounts paid for employee accident and health insurance. Do not deduct amounts credited to a reserve for self-insurance or premiums paid for a policy that pays for your lost earnings due to sickness or disability. Line 17 Include on this line fees charged by accountants and attorneys that are ordinary and necessary expenses directly related to operating your business. Include fees for tax advice related to your business and for preparation of the tax forms related to your business. Also include expenses incurred in resolving asserted tax deficiencies relating to your business. Line 18 Office supplies and postage. Line 19 Contributions to a pension, profit-sharing, or annuity plan, or plan for the benefit of your employees. Line 20 a & b Rent Expense. Equipment and then Real Property Line 21 Incidental repairs and maintenance that do not add to the property's value or appreciably prolong its life. Line 22 You can deduct the cost of materials and supplies only to the extent you actually consumed and used them in your business during the tax year. However, if you had incidental materials and supplies on hand for which you kept no inventories or records of use; you can deduct the cost of those you actually purchased during the tax year, provided that method clearly reflects income. You can also deduct the cost of books, professional instruments, equipment, etc., if you normally use them within a year. However, if their usefulness extends substantially beyond a year, you must generally recover their costs through depreciation. Line 21 Deduct him following taxes and licenses: 19

20 State and local sales taxes imposed on you as the seller of goods or services. If you collected this tax from the buyer, you must also include the amount collected in gross receipts or sales on line 1. Real estate and personal property taxes on business assets Licenses and regulatory fees for your trade or business paid each year to state or local governments. But some licenses, such as liquor licenses, may have to be amortized. Social security and Medicare taxes paid to match required withholding from your employees' wages. Reduce your deduction by the amount shown on Form 8846, line 4. Federal unemployment tax paid. Federal highway use tax. Contributions to state unemployment insurance fund or disability benefit fund if they are considered taxes under state law. Do not deduct the following. Federal income taxes, including your self-employment tax. However, you can deduct one-half of your self-employment tax on Form 1040, line 27, (or Form 1040NR, line 27, when covered under the U.S. social security system due to an international social security agreement). Estate and gift taxes. Taxes assessed to pay for improvements, such as paving and sewers. Taxes on your home or personal use property. State and local sales taxes on property purchased for use in your business. Instead, treat these taxes as part of the cost of the property. State and local sales taxes imposed on the buyer that you were required to collect and pay over to state or local governments. These taxes are not included in gross receipts or sales nor are they a deductible expense. However, if the state or local government allowed you to retain any part of the sales tax you collected; you must include that amount as income on line 6. Other taxes and license fees not related to your business. 20

21 Line 24a Travel: Enter your expenses for lodging and transportation connected with overnight travel for business while away from your tax home. In most cases, your tax home is your main place of business, regardless of where you maintain your family home. You cannot deduct expenses paid or incurred in connection with employment away from home if that period of employment exceeds 1 year. Also, you cannot deduct travel expenses for your spouse, your dependent, or any other individual unless that person is your employee, the travel is for a bona fide business purpose, and the expenses would otherwise be deductible by that person. Instead of keeping records of your actual incidental expenses, you can use an optional method for deducting incidental expenses only if you did not pay or incur meal expenses on a day you were traveling away from your tax home. The amount of the deduction is $5 a day. Incidental expenses include fees and tips given to porters, baggage carriers, bellhops, hotel maids, stewards or stewardesses and others on ships, and hotel servants in foreign countries. They do not include expenses for laundry, cleaning and pressing of clothing, lodging taxes, or the costs of telegrams or telephone calls. You cannot use this method on any day that you use the standard meal allowance (as explained in Line 24b, later). You cannot deduct expenses for attending a convention, seminar, or similar meeting held outside the North American area unless the meeting is directly related to your trade or business and it is as reasonable for the meeting to be held outside the North American area as within it. These rules apply to both employers and employees. Other rules apply to luxury water travel. Line 24b Business meal and entertainment expenses. This includes expenses for meals while traveling away from home for business and for meals that are business-related entertainment. Deductible expenses. Business meal expenses are deductible only if they are (a) directly related to or associated with the active conduct of your trade or business, (b) not lavish or extravagant, and (c) incurred while you or your employee is present at the meal. 21

22 You cannot deduct any expense paid or incurred for a facility (such as a yacht or hunting lodge) used for any activity usually considered entertainment, amusement, or recreation. Also, you cannot deduct membership dues for any club organized for business, pleasure, recreation, or other social purpose. This includes country clubs, golf and athletic clubs, airline and hotel clubs, and clubs operated to provide meals under conditions favorable to business discussion. But it does not include civic or public service organizations, professional organizations (such as bar and medical associations), business leagues, trade associations, chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and real estate boards, unless a principal purpose of the organization is to entertain, or provide entertainment facilities for, members or their guests. There are exceptions to these rules as well as other rules that apply to skybox rentals and tickets to entertainment events. Standard meal allowance. Instead of deducting the actual cost of your meals while traveling away from home, you can use the standard meal allowance for your daily meals and incidental expenses. Under this method, you deduct a specified amount, depending on where you travel, instead of keeping records of your actual meal expenses. However, you must still keep records to prove the time, place, and business purpose of your travel. The standard meal allowance is the federal M&IE rate. You can find these rates on the Internet at Click on Per Diem Rates for links to locations inside and outside the continental United States. Amount of deduction. In most cases, you can deduct only 50% of your business meal and entertainment expenses, including meals incurred while away from home on business. However, for individuals subject to the Department of Transportation (DOT) hours of service limits, that percentage is increased to 80% for business meals consumed during, or incident to, any period of duty for which those limits are in effect. Individuals subject to the DOT hours of service limits include the following. Certain air transportation workers (such as pilots, crew, dispatchers, mechanics, and control tower operators) who are under Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Interstate truck operators who are under DOT regulations. 22

23 Certain merchant mariners who are under Coast Guard regulations. However, you can fully deduct meals, incidentals, and entertainment furnished or reimbursed to an employee if you properly treat the expense as wages subject to withholding. You can also fully deduct meals, incidentals, and entertainment provided to a nonemployee to the extent the expenses are includible in the gross income of that person and reported on Form 1099-MISC. Daycare providers. If you qualify as a family daycare provider, you can use the standard meal and snack rates, instead of actual costs, to figure the deductible cost of meals and snacks provided to eligible children. Line 25 Utility expenses only for your trade or business. Local telephone service. If you used your home phone for business, do not deduct the base rate (including taxes) of the first phone line into your residence. But you can deduct any additional costs you incurred for business that are more than the base rate of the first phone line. For example, if you had a second line, you can deduct the business percentage of the charges for that line, including the base rate charges. Line 26 Wages: In most cases, you are required to file Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, for each employee. Line 30 Business use of your home. You may be able to deduct certain expenses for business use of your home, subject to limitations. To claim a deduction for business use of your home, you can use Form 8829 or you can elect to determine the amount of the deduction using a simplified method. Simplified method. The simplified method is an alternative to the calculation, allocation, and substantiation of actual expenses. In most cases, you will figure your deduction by multiplying the area (measured in square feet) used regularly and exclusively for business, regularly for daycare, or regularly for storage of inventory or product samples, by $5. The area you use to figure your deduction cannot exceed 300 square feet. You cannot use the simplified method to figure a deduction for rental use of your home. Using Form Use Form 8829 to figure and claim this deduction for a home if you are not or cannot use the simplified method for that home. 23

24 Part III. Cost of Goods Sold In most cases, if you engaged in a trade or business in which the production, purchase, or sale of merchandise was an income-producing factor, you must take inventories into account at the beginning and end of your tax year. Exception for certain taxpayers. If you are a qualifying taxpayer or a qualifying small business taxpayer you can account for inventoriable items in the same manner as materials and supplies that are not incidental. Under this accounting method, inventory costs for raw materials purchased for use in producing finished goods and merchandise purchased for resale are deductible in the year the finished goods or merchandise are sold (but not before the year you paid for the raw materials or merchandise, if you are also using the cash method). Enter amounts paid for all raw materials and merchandise during 2014 on line 36. The amount you can deduct for 2014 is figured on line 42. Qualifying taxpayer. This is a taxpayer (a) whose average annual gross receipts for each tax year ending on or after December 17, 1998, are $1 million or less, and (b) whose business is not a tax shelter (as defined in section 448(d)(3)). To figure your average annual gross receipts for each tax year, add the gross receipts for that tax year and the 2 preceding tax years. Divide the total by three. Qualifying small business taxpayer. This is a taxpayer (a) whose average annual gross receipts for each tax year ending on or after December 31, 2000, are $10 million or less, (b) whose business is not a tax shelter (as defined in section 448(d)(3)), and (c) whose principal business activity is not an ineligible activity as explained in Rev. Proc You can find Rev. Proc on page 815 of Internal Revenue Bulletin at To figure your average annual gross receipts for each tax year, add the gross receipts for that tax year and the 2 preceding tax years. Divide the total by three. Changing accounting methods. 24

25 File Form 3115 if you are a qualifying taxpayer or qualifying small business taxpayer and want to change to the cash method or to account for inventoriable items as non-incidental materials and supplies. Your inventories can be valued at cost, the lower of cost or market, or any other method approved by the IRS. However, you are required to use cost if you are using the cash method of accounting. If you are changing your method of accounting beginning with 2014, refigure last year's closing inventory using your new method of accounting and enter the result on line 35. If there is a difference between last year's closing inventory and the refigured amount, attach an explanation and take it into account when figuring your section 481(a) adjustment. For details, see the example under Line F, earlier. In most cases, commuting is travel between your home and a work location. If you converted your vehicle during the year from personal to business use (or vice versa), enter your commuting miles only for the period you drove your vehicle for business. For information on certain travel that is considered a business expense rather than commuting, see the Instructions for Form Part V. Other Expenses Lines 48 and 27a Include all ordinary and necessary business expenses not deducted elsewhere on Schedule C. List the type and amount of each expense separately in the space provided. Enter the total on. Do not include the cost of business equipment or furniture, replacements or permanent improvements to property, or personal, living, and family expenses. Do not include charitable contributions. Also, you cannot deduct fines or penalties paid to a government for violating any law. Include amortization in this part. For amortization that begins in 2014, you must complete and attach Form

26 IRS Audit Technique Guides Aerospace Industry Air Transportation Architects and Landscape Architects Art Galleries Attorneys Business Consultants Cash Intensive Businesses. Some of these businesses include bail bonds, beauty shops, car washes, check cashing establishments, coin operated amusements, laundromats, scrap metal, some convenience stores and Taxicabs. Child Care Provider Construction Industry IRC 183: Activities Not Engaged in For Profit Ministers Reforestation Industry Retail Industry Wine Industry ATG 26

27 Special Case Schedule C Adult Foster Care homes Code section 131 (a) General rule Gross income shall not include amounts received by a foster care provider during the taxable year as qualified foster care payments. (b) Qualified foster care payment defined For purposes of this section (1) In general The term qualified foster care payment means any payment made pursuant to a foster care program of a State or political subdivision thereof (A) which is paid by (i) a State or political subdivision thereof, or (ii) a qualified foster care placement agency, and (B) which is (i) paid to the foster care provider for caring for a qualified foster individual in the foster care provider s home, or (ii) a difficulty of care payment. (2) Qualified foster individual The term qualified foster individual means any individual who is living in a foster family home in which such individual was placed by (A) an agency of a State or political subdivision thereof, or (B) a qualified foster care placement agency. (3) Qualified foster care placement agency The term qualified foster care placement agency means any placement agency which is licensed or certified by (A) a State or political subdivision thereof, or (B) an entity designated by a State or political subdivision thereof, for the foster care program of such State or political subdivision to make foster care payments to providers of foster care. (4) Limitation based on number of individuals over the age of 18 In the case of any foster home in which there is a qualified foster care individual who has attained age 19, foster care payments (other than difficulty of care payments) for any period to which such payments relate shall not be excludable from gross income under subsection (a) to the extent such payments are made for more than 5 such qualified foster individuals. Observation: Because of audits and the concept that the tax return must tie to deposits B & B Bed and Breakfast is even more interesting that it used to be with the advent of the Air BNB concept. Most of the time there is a lodging tax that is also involved with a B&B. 27

28 Currently, Airbnb is collecting and remitting taxes in the following locations: Multnomah County and Portland, Oregon USA Guests who book Airbnb listings that are located in the State of Oregon, Multnomah County and/or the City of Portland will pay the following taxes as part of their reservation: Oregon Transient Lodging Tax: 1% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 30 nights and shorter. 1% is the State imposed tax rate only. For detailed information, visit Oregon.gov. Multnomah County Transient Lodging Tax: 11.5% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 30 nights and shorter. 11.5% is the maximum Transient Lodging Tax for listings in Multnomah County (excluding the State level tax). For example, for Portland listings that are also located in Multnomah County, the Portland Transient Lodging Tax is 6% and the Multnomah County Transient Lodging Tax is 5.5%. For detailed information, visit PortlandOregon.gov. Portland Transient Lodging Tax: 6% of the listing price including any cleaning fee for reservations 30 nights and shorter Hobby Issues In making the distinction between a hobby or business activity, take into account all facts and circumstances with respect to the activity. No one factor alone is decisive. You must generally consider these factors to establish that an activity is a business engaged in making a profit: Whether you carry on the activity in a businesslike manner. Whether the time and effort you put into the activity indicate you intend to make it profitable. Whether you depend on income from the activity for your livelihood. Whether your losses are due to circumstances beyond your control (or are normal in the startup phase of your type of business). Whether you change your methods of operation in an attempt to improve profitability. Whether you or your advisors have the knowledge needed to carry on the activity as a successful business. Whether you were successful in making a profit in similar activities in the past. Whether the activity makes a profit in some years and how much profit it makes. Whether you can expect to make a future profit from the appreciation of the assets used in the activity. Uber (non-taxi transport) The Future 28

29 Marijuana issues in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon. 29

30 Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss (From rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporations, estates, trusts, REMICs, etc.) Example: Bill who lives in Eugene decides to rent out his home for 7 days while he is on vacation for a week. Bill happens to plan his vacation during a time where the NCAA track and field meet is taking place at Oregon. He rents his house out for for the week. Where does Bill put that rental income on his tax return? The less than 15 day rule allows you to rent your home for a period of less than 15 days and the income does not have to be claimed on the tax return.. This is not a place for rental of personal property Schedule E Part I Dot your i s and cross your t s Full address 1. Single Family Residence 2. Multi Family Residence 3. Vacation/ Short Term Rental 4. Commercial 5. Land 6. Royalties 7. Self-rental 8. Other Days of personal use are days that you use the property personally or used by someone you allow to use it. Personal use days do not include days were you spend substantially all day doing repairs of maintenance of the location. Income Rents Received Royalties Received 30

31 Ordinary and Necessary expenses Auto at actual or mileage method Telephone that is directly related to the rental All other expenses Depreciation or Depletion Rentals that have special allocations Not a 100% owner you either have a joint venture or you have a partnership. If you rent out a part of your home you have a mixed use issue. If you rent out rooms that have exclusive use: Income is reported on Schedule E. The exclusive use percent of the interest and taxes is put on the Schedule E and the personal portion is reported on Schedule A. The other rental expenses such as maintenance, insurance, and depreciation are deducted on schedule E but are limited to the gross rental income. Hotel/motel exception: If you have a portion of your home that is exclusively used for short term rental you can deduct the business portion of all expenses without consideration of the 280A limitation. However any commonly shared space this exception does not apply. 31