Tax Deductions for Contractors and Self-employed Business Owners

• Mileage tax deduction

  For many contractors, this is their main expense deduction. For 2010, the standard mileage rate is 50 cents per mile for all business-related travel in an automobile. This increases to 51 cents per mile in 2011.

  The IRS requires a written log of all business mileage which includes:

  • date vehicle was used for travel
  • destination
  • purpose of travel
  • total miles driven to all business-related locations (beginning and ending at your home.)

  What is this worth? For a person who only made $1000 of self-employed income, drove 500 miles in the year for the business, and is in the lowest tax bracket, it could save them about $64 on their 2010 tax return.
• Advertising costs
  This includes cost of a website (web hosting, domain name renewal, SSL certificates) as well as other forms of advertising.
• Amount paid to employees or non-employees.
  If more than $600 was paid to a non-employee, you must file at 1099-Misc for with the IRS prior to February 1st.
• Cost of tools, office furniture, or equipment needed for the business that is expected to last more than one year.
  Include the date item was put in service.
• If you have employees, cost of benefits you provide.
• Liability insurance
• Interest paid on a business loan or mortgage
  You can claim the entire mortgage interest if the business is located outside your primary residence. If the business is located in your home, you will need to calculate the percentage of home used regularly and exclusively for the business and use that percentage of the mortgage interest as a business expense.
• Cost of legal services
• Cost of tax preparation fees
  This includes tax preparation fees to prepare the Schedule C (profit or loss from business), Schedule SE (self-employment tax), Form 4562 (depreciation and amortization), Form 8829 (business use of home), and any other tax forms relating to the business.
• Office expenses
  This including postage and office supplies.
• Rent or lease payments for equipment or vehicles used solely for the business
• Cost of equipment repairs
  This does not include repairs to an office that is located in your home. The cost of those repairs are listed on Form 8829 (expenses for business use of home.)
• Cost of business license
• Amount paid for state tax, excise tax, or sales tax
• Travel expenses when traveling outside your local area.
  If you need to travel more than 50 miles from your business location and thus incurred travel expenses (including air travel, hotel, taxi service, gratuity, etc.) you can claim the percentage that was used for business. If part of the travel was for personal reasons or pleasure, allocate the business percentage of the total expense.
• The cost of food and entertainment purchased at a business meeting

  A record of the topic discussed or minutes of the meeting and names of people in attendance are a good idea if needing to prove the validity of this expense.

  Since receipts tend to fade over time, it is also a good idea to re-write the date and amount of the bill on the receipt.

  There are several exceptions to the tax rules related to business meals and entertainment.
• Business phone expense
  In order to deduct business calls, the phone or cell phone plan needs to be listed with the name or the business. If the business is located in your home, only the 2nd phone is able to be claimed as used for business.
• Wages paid to employees
• Other expenses such as:
  Professional memberships, training and education, subscriptions, books and publications, gifts of no more than $20 per person, and other miscellaneous expenses.