Home office deductions - internet and phone bill

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by KevK

And remember your gun should be just that- concealed. Many customers would be turned off if you met them with a gun showing. It would not bother me but some it would.

Usually when I'm with an established client I'm not carring or it's in my console. Either carrying or not it is always concealed and I agree some might night like it.

[bale002]

In my county and municipality, I am allowed to use up to 20% of my home space for a home-based business. I live in a relatively small dwelling, so I take the 20% as a base.

On schedule C, I take 20% of basic utilities (electricity and phone) and maintenance and/or rent.

My business is largely based on the internet, less so on the phone, so I separate the internet portion of my phone bill and deduct 90% of that separately. In my case, I believe it is justified.

In the end, indeed, we are talking about nickels and dimes, but I have also heard that the IRS can be petty, I don't know, I have not been audited.

Nonetheless, I paid the maximum in social security for 2007 - even more, I actually received an unexpected refund - so I hope they would be satisfied with that.

Also, my expenses are only a small proportion of my revenues, in the neighborhood of 5%-10%, so hardly likely to trip a red flag.

Hope this helps.

[Driller1]

The IRS is not petty. You just have to back-up every line item. Oh, an audit was not fun but, very survivable. I had some I could not come up with receipts. I got some cash slips to fill-in the blanks. You just have to play your best hand, make your own luck. I am more careful about keeping thing now.