Dentist Wants to Know How to Write Off Business Expense of Automobile

My wife travels once or twice a week to our removable lab 185 miles round trip, as well as travels to the nearest large city 85 miles round trip for supplies for the office once or twice a week.  I bought an old beater for 2300 dollars a couple of years ago that just died that we were using. Last week I had to trade my car in due to a wreck. Is there any legal way to write off a portion of this new car?

Absolutely! There's nothing illegal about deducting the business use of one’s automobile.

Here's a link to IRS.gov where you can search for how to deduct auto expenses.

If you have been using your vehicles for business use and not deducting the expenses I wonder what else you're not deducting and could be? I'd also wonder how much you'd be able to get back in taxes by amending some prior year returns.

This first appeared on Dentaltown.

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Business Expenses Deduction Questions for Part-Time Dentist's 1099

Hello,

In 2011 my majority of income is from W2 as an employee, but there is a small portion ($8000) from 1099-MISC as an independent contractor. The W2 employer only paid my malpractice insurance premium, but I kept another long-held malpractice insurance paid by myself.

Can I deduct the second insurance premium?

I believe you can 

As well as other expenses like ADA and local dental society dues, CE courses, license renewal fee etc on Schedule C filed for the 1099-MISC?The answer is yes. Then the question is: were any of these expenses related to your employment income as well? I'm guessing they were so you have to at least consider whether these expenses need to be allocated between Schedule c and Schedule a.

By doing so about half of 1099-MISC income would be written-off, will that trigger an IRS audit?

It shouldn't.

Thanks for the quick response. Yes all the expenses are related to both W2 and 1099-MISC jobs. So how can I allocate the expenses to Schedule A and C?  Proportionally based on the income of these two jobs, or a half-half split? 

There's no defined way to allocate. It’s up to the taxpayer though there should be a method that's logical. For example, if your employer paid malpractice that covers the W-2 I'd have no problem allocating 100% of that to Schedule C. If you paid dues and you can show your employer didn't require them I’d allocate them to your Schedule C. Things like DEA licenses, etc... should be allocated in my opinion and I see no problems using an equal allocation unless you can justify a higher allocation to the Schedule C, just be prepared to support your decision. Worst thing that can happen with any allocation is that you get audited and it disagrees. They'll just reallocate.

What if I wrote off disability for the last two years?  Am I screwed?  What if I start not writing it off now?  Any insights on what can happen then?

No- Generally the more distance you put between a possible disability and when you deducted premiums the safer you'll be in an audit.

Is it the same for life insurance premiums?  Should you not deduct those also?

Generally premiums for life insurance are not deductible, however, there are some exceptions. Two quick ones that come to mind:

1. if your lender requires it as a condition of their loan
2. as employee fringe benefit up to $50k of insurance

There may be other exceptions as well...

This first appeared on Dentaltown.

For more information, please contact info@dentalcpas.com

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