My CFO on the Go!

Today I was reading I Help You Blog’s “101 Great Posting Ideas For Your Blog”.
It is a great post with lots of ideas and it inspired me to write 101 Tax Deductions for Your Online Business.

These deductions are all perfectly legal, however, the IRS is picky about how you take them. So make sure to do some research, or engage the services of a professional, before you take these deductions on your tax return.
Now, on to your 101 Tax Deductions!

Online Deductions

01. Web Hosting
02. Internet Connection
03. PayPal Charges
04. AdWords Ads
05. Web Designer Fees
06. E-Books Purchased for Business Use (Not for Sale, those would be inventory and that’s another post!)
07. Affiliate Fees
Read more…

Beginning Jan. 1, 2008, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

• 50.5 cents per mile for business miles driven;
• 19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes; and
• 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

The new rate for business miles compares to a rate of 48.5 cents per mile for 2007. The new rate for medical and moving purposes compares to 20 cents in 2007. The rate for miles driven in service of charitable organizations has remained the same.

The standard mileage rate for business is based on an annual study of the fixed and variable costs of operating an automobile; the standard rate for medical and moving purposes is based on the variable costs as determined by the same study. Runzheimer International, an independent contractor, conducted the study for the IRS.

The mileage rate for charitable miles is set by law.

A taxpayer may not use the business standard mileage rate for a vehicle after using any depreciation method under the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS), after claiming a Section 179 deduction for that vehicle, for any vehicle used for hire or for more than four vehicles used simultaneously.

Revenue Procedure 2007-70 contains additional information on these standard mileage rates.

Many people don’t realize the income they earn from auctions and consignment sales may be taxable.
What’s Taxable
All income from auctions, traditional or online, and consignment sales is generally taxable unless certain exceptions are met. This income is usually considered either “business” or “ordinary” income. Read more…

Recognizing that the sky rocketing gas prices may be making driving more expensive, the IRS has dramatically increased the standard mileage rate for business miles.

When calculating deductions for business auto use, taxpayers can use either actual expenses, or the standard mileage rate. The mileage rate takes into consideration not only fuel prices, but maintenance and depreciation. Many taxpayers prefer using the standard mileage rate because it simplifies record keeping.

The standard mileage rate is usually adjusted for inflation at the beginning of the year. However, because of high gas prices the IRS has done a mid-year adjustment. Beginning July 1, 2008 taxpayers can deduct 58.5 cents per business mile, up from 50.5 cents per mile.

Taxpayers are also allowed to deduct mileage expenses related to moving, medical expenses, and charitable work. Apparently cars cost less to drive if you are driving for charity, medical care or moving. Medical and moving miles can be deducted at 27 cents per mile, charitable miles are only worth a 14 cents per mile deduction.

You can find out more at the IRS Website.

I was on a forum, and there it was. A poster declaring that you don’t have to pay taxes, that taxes are illegal, just watch this video and it will explain everything. I didn’t watch the video, I’ve seen too many of them I know how it goes. There will be a discussion of how the 16th amendment was never properly ratified, or a new definition of Income, maybe an explanation of how to file a Zero income tax return. Probably followed by an appeal to send just $49.95 for your un-tax kit.

So I replied to the forum poster that the IRS has probably heard his argument before, and dismissed it. Also, like it or not, they are the ones making the rules. I told him the best way to lower your tax burden was to either find a good tax professional who knew the tax law, or buy yourself a good tax book (like the JK Lasser book) and learn how to work within the laws to create the lowest legal tax liability. The other alternative is to not make much money. A married couple with 2 children who’s income is from earnings can make over $30,000 without owing federal income taxes.

He didn’t like my response. And gave the typical response of tax protesters everywhere. He said that if everyone knew they didn’t need to pay taxes I’d be out of a job. He claimed I probably knew that people didn’t have to pay taxes, but I wouldn’t tell them because I was working with the IRS to keep everyone “slaves to the system”.

That argument always makes me laugh. If I knew a legal way for people to avoid taxes I’d be the most popular tax adviser in the country. I’ve seen how much money people will pay for a tax scam, I can only imagine what they would pay for the real deal.

So before you hand over your money to “crack the code” or “un-tax” yourself, do me a favor. First read the IRS’s free PDF on the most popular tax scams. Then check out the Quatloos site for more information on scams, and the scammers that run them. Finally, take a look at eTaxe.com for some interesting commentary on the major tax protester arguments.

Now, I’d love to hear your tax story. Have you tried one of these “systems”? What did it cost? Have you heard from the IRS?