Commonly Overlooked Tax Deductions
Commonly Overlooked Tax Deductions
As the tax filing deadline approaches, taxpayers are always looking for legitimate tax deductions they may have overlooked. For example, did you know you can deduct the money your business spent to purchase office supplies during the year? As long as these expenses were for items that are ordinary and necessary to your business but for which you were NOT reimbursed, you can probably deduct them.
The following list shows the kinds of supplies that might be purchased by a firm during the normal course of operation:
- Accounting, Business, and Legal Forms
- Address Books/Binders
- Appointment Books
- Bill and Coin Wrappers
- Bank Bags
- Cash and Check Boxes
- Legal and Note Pads
- Counterfeit Detection Pens and Highlighters
- Journals, Ledgers, and Organizers
- Paper and Graph Paper
- Paper Clips and Pens/Pencils
- Petty Cash and Message Forms
- Receipt, Record and Sales Books
- Rulers, Scissors and Tape
- Tax Forms
- Other supplies used in your work
In addition, printing, duplicating and mailing expenses may also be deductible. Some small machines or equipment, such as bill counters, coin counters, calculators and similar tools used in your work, are possible deduction candidates as well.
In these examples, all of the expenses are for items used in a business in the regular performance of their employees’ duties. However, the deductions available are not limited to the supplies and services they need to do their jobs and pursue their careers. Business and individual taxpayers may also be able to deduct the costs of:
- Treatment and care from a Chiropractor or Osteopath.
- Contact lenses and/or glasses.
- Health and long term care insurance premiums
- Medical services, medicines and prescription drugs
- Membership dues paid to a qualified charitable organization
- Out-of-pocket expenses incurred while giving services to a qualified charitable organization
- Mandatory contributions made to state benefit funds providing protection against loss of wages
- Fees and charges that are expenses of your trade or business, or of producing income
- Appraisal fees
- Tax preparation fees
- If you are self-employed, you may also be able to deduct half of the self employment taxes you have paid.
Always consult a professional tax preparer in order to make sure there aren’t other deductions you may be missing. It’s not about avoiding paying taxes, but you should make sure you take advantage of all legitimate opportunities to keep as much of your hard-earned cash as you can.
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
We hope you found this article about “Commonly Overlooked Tax Deductions” helpful. If you have questions or need expert tax or family office advice that’s refreshingly objective (we never sell investments), please contact us or visit our Family office page or our website at www.GROCO.com. Unfortunately, we no longer give advice to other tax professionals gratis.
To receive our free newsletter, contact us here.
Subscribe our YouTube Channel for more updates.
Alan Olsen, is the Host of the American Dreams Show and the Managing Partner of GROCO.com. GROCO is a premier family office and tax advisory firm located in the San Francisco Bay area serving clients all over the world.
Alan L. Olsen, CPA, Wikipedia Bio
GROCO.com is a proud sponsor of The American Dreams Show.
The American Dreams show was the brainchild of Alan Olsen, CPA, MBA. It was originally created to fill a specific need; often inexperienced entrepreneurs lacked basic information about raising capital and how to successfully start a business.
Alan sincerely wanted to respond to the many requests from aspiring entrepreneurs asking for the information and introductions they needed. But he had to find a way to help in which his venture capital clients and friends would not mind.
The American Dreams show became the solution, first as a radio show and now with YouTube videos as well. Always respectful of interview guest’s time, he’s able to give access to individuals information and inspiration previously inaccessible to the first-time entrepreneurs who need it most.
They can listen to venture capitalists and successful business people explain first-hand, how they got to where they are, how to start a company, how to overcome challenges, how they see the future evolving, opportunities, work-life balance and so much more..
American Dreams discusses many topics from some of the world’s most successful individuals about their secrets to life’s success. Topics from guest have included:
Creating purpose in life / Building a foundation for their life / Solving problems / Finding fulfillment through philanthropy and service / Becoming self-reliant / Enhancing effective leadership / Balancing family and work…
MyPaths.com (Also sponsored by GROCO) provides free access to content and world-class entrepreneurs, influencers and thought leaders’ personal success stories. To help you find your path in life to true, sustainable success & happiness. It’s mission statement:
In an increasingly complex and difficult world, we hope to help you find your personal path in life and build a strong foundation by learning how others found success and happiness. True and sustainable success and happiness are different for each one of us but possible, often despite significant challenges.
Our mission at MyPaths.com is to provide resources and firsthand accounts of how others found their paths in life, so you can do the same.
4 Ways to Improve Workplace Mutual Respect
Does workplace mutual respect matter during a pandemic? Yes, it’s important with or without a pandemic, just like it is at home! The new social distancing rules prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a proliferation of remote workers. How do business leaders and organizations adjust to extraordinary circumstances never taught in business school? …
Possible PPP Legislation | 1099-B & W-4P
Update on Possible PPP Legislation Hello and welcome. This is Ron Cohen. And this is a tax updates podcast. I’m with the firm of Greenstein Rogoff, Olsen and company. My phone number is 510-797-8661. Call anytime we’re happy to talk and chat with anybody a little bit to see if we can help. This episode…
Proposed California Tenant Relief and Coronavirus Update
Re. the proposed California tenant relief and Coronavirus update. Dear Clients and Friends: I keep saying: “I’ve never seen anything like this before!”…and then there is more! June 17, 2:35 p.m. A proposed California Senate bill could give out-of-work tenants in the state 10 years to pay back unpaid rent due to loss of income related to the…
President Trump Signs Bill to Help Small Businesses with Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility
Press Release Friday June 5, 2020. This morning president Trump signed into law H.R.7010 to help small businesses. The purpose of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act is to amend the Small Business Act and the CARES Act to modify certain provisions related to the forgiveness of loans under the paycheck protection program, to allow…