J.K. Lasser's From Ebay to Mary Kay (eBook)

GARY W. CARTER, PHD, MT, cPA, has more than twenty years of tax experience. He has worked as a revenue auditor and tax practitioner, and is currently on the faculty of the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. Carter also writes, lectures, has a Web site (www.thetaxguy.com), and conducts seminars on tax issues pertaining to home-based businesses.

Introduction: Before We Get Started.

1 The Lay of the Land.

Legislative, Administrative, and Judicial Authority.

The Audit Process and Your Appeal Rights.

Can I Completely Avoid Paying Income Tax?

Additional Resources.

Notes.

2 What Is a Business for Tax Purposes?

Investing Cannot Be a Business.

Dealing or Trading Could Be a Business.

Rents from Real Estate.

Is It a Hobby or a Business?

Identifying Deductible Business Expenses.

Does It Pay to Be Creative?

Additional Resources.

Notes.

3 Choices for Business Organization.

Sole Proprietorships.

Partnerships.

C Corporations.

S Corporations.

Limited Liability Companies (LLCs).

Which Form Is Best?

Additional Resources.

Notes.

4 Tax Accounting Methods and Periods.

What Is a Method of Accounting?

The Cash Receipts and Disbursements Method.

Accrual Methods.

The Hybrid Method.

Which Method Is Best for You?

Accounting Periods.

Additional Resources.

Notes.

5 How to Account for Inventory.

When Is Inventory Required?

The Accrual Method Requirement.

The Small Taxpayer Exception under Revenue Procedure 2001-10.

The Small Business Exception under Revenue Procedure 2002-28.

Changing Your Accounting Method.

Inventory Methods When the Exceptions Don't Apply.

Additional Resources.

Notes.

6 Business, Sales, and Use Taxes.

State and Local Business Taxes.

Self-Employment Tax.

Federal Estimated Tax Payments.

Employment Taxes.

General State Taxing Authority for Income Taxes.

General State Taxing Authority for Sales and Use Taxes.

The Streamlined Sales Tax Project.

What to Do before Making Sales.

Additional Resources.

Notes.

7 Limitations on Use of Your Home.

Why Pick on Us?

A Quick Summary of the Restrictions.

Is Your "Home" Where You Think It Is?

Regular Use of a Home Office.

Exclusive Means Exclusive!

What Is Your Principal Place of Business?

A Place to Meet Patients, Clients, or Customers.

The Use of Separate Structures.

Use as Storage Space.

Daycare Services.

Application of Section 280A Business-Use Tests to Partnerships and Corporations.

Employee Expenses.

Additional Resources.

Notes.

8 Form 8829 Line by Line.

Determining the Part of Your Home Used for Business.

Figuring Your Allowable Deduction.

Depreciation of the Business Portion of Your Home.

An Example Using Form 8829 and Form 4562.

Additional Resources.

Notes.

9 Planes, Trains, and (Especially) Automobiles.

Travel Away from Home.

Transportation.

Your Car: Standard Mileage Rate versus Actual Expenses.

How to Report Travel and Transportation Deductions on Your Return.

Additional Resources.

Notes.

10 Other Common Business Deductions.

Who Deducts What, Where?

Depreciation of Personal Property.

Computer Software.

Books, Subscriptions, and Supplies.

Telephone Services.

Meals and Entertainment.

Business Liability Insurance.

Health Insurance and Medical Savings Accounts.

Wages for Home-Office Workers.

Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed.

Additional Resources.

Notes.

11 Sale of Your Residence.

The Sale of a Principal Residence Before and After the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997.

Reporting Post-Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 Sales.

Should You Always Claim Home-Office Deductions?

Additional Resources.

Notes.

12 Records You Better Keep.

General Bookkeeping and Substantiation Requirements.

Special Substantiation Requirements.

When Is It Safe to Throw Stuff Away?

Additional Resources.

Notes.

13 A Comprehensive Example.

George's Business.

The Home Office.

Other Return Items.

Estimated Tax Payments for 2006.

Index.