Eliminate Business Myths and Operate With Business Knowledge
There are so many myths and misunderstandings about how to start and run a business that the confusion prevents many people from ever getting started.
Here are the real facts no matter what you’ve heard from misinformed folks:
- You don’t need to operate your business full-time or incorporate to take tax deductions.
- There are no requirements regarding how much money you must invest or that you must invest any money at all in order to take the deductions.
- If you are a “sole proprietorship,” you do not need a tax ID number; your Social Security number will suffice, as long as you have no more than three employees who are not family members.
- You are allowed to take tax deductions on assets you buy and use in your small business, even if you buy the assets on credit.
- If you use assets part-time in your business and part-time personally, you may deduct the business portion of the cost.
- Investments such as real estate do not fall under the three-out-of-five-year profit rule, but real estate should be treated as an investment, not a small business. You will still get investment deductions.
- Managing your own investments or collectibles is not considered a business, but does qualify you for investment tax deductions
- Having a small business does not “flag” your return for audit. Only 1% of individual returns and 2% of small-business returns are audited.
- You may claim more tax deductions than income.
- Your automobile or other asset does not have to be in a business name to qualify for tax deductions.
- Record keeping and tax forms for a small business are relatively easy to complete.
- You don’t need any special licenses or permits from local or national government agencies before you can take tax deductions.
