Yeah, I did.
Your funny, audacious challenge/post ("I dare you to try and depreciate it") inspired mine.
But, you know, I got carried away with the humor and forgot that Kurly had a real situation and a serious question (sorry, Kurly). This offbeat issue has been kicked around a long time (let's kick it some more) but I've never heard any solutions/cites. While it makes us laugh, we're also serious about it.
I think the storage yard guy should get to deduct it. My "Contract Labor" was meant humorously, of course, and I can't really think of a depreciation category, but your "Security Dog Expense" (didn't know if you were joking or not) under Schedule C "Other Expenses" seems on the mark -- maybe shorten it to "Security" and avoid IRS scrutiny; also take off food, etc. under "Supplies."
These situations seem a little "crazy" -- like deducting a gun as "Security Expense" (I did that once) -- but they involve real money, so we're interested. Your truck driver's a good example -- he has a "business need" to protect himself, his truck, and its contents. The barking lapdog helps do that. Why shouldn't he be able to deduct cost and maintenance?
IRS would probably say it's a question of how far you can reasonably go with this sort of thing. I once worked in a bad neighborhood and my employer bought and deducted a .45 automatic. Would that be the same principle as buying a deductible alarm system or hiring a nightwatchman? Carried to the extreme, that trucker might deduct his socks because he can't hold the gas pedal down for hours if his feet are cold. Hmm...that's true...come to think of it...
Originally posted by ecb34691
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But, you know, I got carried away with the humor and forgot that Kurly had a real situation and a serious question (sorry, Kurly). This offbeat issue has been kicked around a long time (let's kick it some more) but I've never heard any solutions/cites. While it makes us laugh, we're also serious about it.
I think the storage yard guy should get to deduct it. My "Contract Labor" was meant humorously, of course, and I can't really think of a depreciation category, but your "Security Dog Expense" (didn't know if you were joking or not) under Schedule C "Other Expenses" seems on the mark -- maybe shorten it to "Security" and avoid IRS scrutiny; also take off food, etc. under "Supplies."
These situations seem a little "crazy" -- like deducting a gun as "Security Expense" (I did that once) -- but they involve real money, so we're interested. Your truck driver's a good example -- he has a "business need" to protect himself, his truck, and its contents. The barking lapdog helps do that. Why shouldn't he be able to deduct cost and maintenance?
IRS would probably say it's a question of how far you can reasonably go with this sort of thing. I once worked in a bad neighborhood and my employer bought and deducted a .45 automatic. Would that be the same principle as buying a deductible alarm system or hiring a nightwatchman? Carried to the extreme, that trucker might deduct his socks because he can't hold the gas pedal down for hours if his feet are cold. Hmm...that's true...come to think of it...
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