Hi there! I am currently kicking myself…I’ve REALLY made a mess of my finances and record-keeping. See, I’m over 18, and yet this is the first time I’ve ever tried doing my taxes myself. in the past it’s been 95% my father doing the work, 5% me running around, confused, trying to find forms he says I need and that I don’t remember getting but must have put…somewhere. Now, I highly doubt I’ll ever meet any of you in person, so your opinions really shouldn’t matter, but before I go into this next part I feel compelled to just add here that i am NOT an idiot…well…not usually. When it comes to finances, though, I’m finding that general rule of thumb just doesn’t apply.

So here’s the story. I’ve always been pretty entrepreneurial, doing some freelance writing, ebay selling, babysitting, event planning, stuff like that. For 2009, though, my primary income, in addition to waitressing, was 1) babysitting and 2) advertising/marketing writing–to be specific, working on commission to sell stuff for folks. I kept TERRIBLE records (i.e. none), not because I was trying to be dishonest or piss of the IRS, but because I just didn’t think about it. So you can imagine what a disaster my trying to file this year has been! The only good records were from the waitressing job–about k–which has been the majority of my income. Other tax form areas I saw and for which I REALLY wished I had better info: medical expenses and charity. If I’d kept better records for both, I think taxes could have been SIGNIFICANTLY less than they turned out to be (about k total (federal and state), but even more–about 00–before I fix the error i made when sending in the first return. I think this is called an amendment…will this increase my chances of an audit?)

I also found out I’m supposed to pay quarterly estimated taxes, which I will start doing as soon as i get the error straightened out.

So here’s my basic question. Starting now through the end of the year (and beyond, of course:)), I plan on keeping very good records. I’ll be keeping track of:

1) medical expenses
2) charity work/donations

For these I’m confused about several things. First, the standard deduction? I heard I should usually take this for medical and charity, and that medical has to be at least 7.5% of income to qualify (which mine always is).

Then there’s the ever-intimidating:
3) Business finances.

As I understand it, I am considered to "own" two different businesses. One is babysitting (which I do in the family’s home), the other, "advertising/marketing services."

For babysitting, the kids live a quarter mile from me, so I’m not planning on trying to figure out deductions related to driving. what I’m planning to do in for this is just record each time I get paid (day and amount), and my expenses (almost all of which are me buying stuff for the kids during the day–the parents reimburse me for those when I get paid, so I’ll just make a note of them.)

For the writing/advertising, though, it gets a bit more complicated. Sometimes I take on big projects for folks who are losing their homes and need everything out by a specific date. For instance, last month I did a 3 1/2-week job for a guy who owned a four-bedroom house, everything still inside. I coordinated estate sales, private sales, listed stuff on craigslist and in different forums, etc. The guy lived almost 30 miles away, and I was constantly driving back and forth to meet potential buyers. On several occasions I also had to hire folks to help with the sales when I couldn’t be there at a specific time. There were lots of miscellanious expenses, etc. and some people we even paid in "stuff."

What I’m planning to do for this second biz from now on is to record each time a sale is made, what my commission is (if it’s not something I bought to re-sell), and what my expenses are. I’ll also try to log mileage as it occurs.

As for other deductions, I think it might be a good idea to just leave those alone, because almost everything I use for my business (computer, car, etc.) is also for personal use. So that whole "home office" deduction would definitely not apply, because my "office" is the computer in my bedroom (and I don’t pay rent), and my "inventory," when I’m buying and re-selling rather than just working on commission, is just piles of whatever stuff it is I’m marketing.

When it comes time to file those 2010 taxes, is this going to be pretty much the majority of what I’ll need? Other than the w-2 from my waitressing job and the (miniscule) statement from my stock shares, have I covered everything I’ll need? and if not, what else should I be aware of? I want to make sure NOTHING like this EVER happens again!!!

Thank you so much for any input you can provide!

I have been working as an Independent Contractor for my employer as of 9/11/08. I didn’t have a paycheck by the 9/15 so I will be paying my income from 9/11 on by the 01/15/09 quarterly pay date for small businesses. By the end of the year I will have earned about ,400 from this job. The only deduction I have is about for transportation.

I also held another job earlier in the year from which I earned about 0. Social Security and Medicare were witheld, but not income tax. Altogether I will have earned under the ,200 limit for the entire year of 2008.

What I am unsure of is if I still need to pay income tax. My quarterly earnings are such that I would have earned a taxable amount had I earned that much every quarter, so I am confused about that.

Also, how much of the 15.3% SS&M do I need to pay? I’ve seen literature talking about how half of Social Security and Medicare is usually paid by employers, half of it can be deducted from net earnings…it’s all very very confusing to me.

If anyone can give me an answer, or clarify this that’d be great. I’m not in the market for consultants (I already know some.)

I worked two typed of jobs last year, one that takes taxes out which I fill out a 1040EZ but the other one was under the 1099 because they did not take taxes out, I also have deductions to start the business under the 1099 job, how should I file? Please Help best answer gets thumbs up 5 stars and Best Answer!! Thank you!!!

if vehicle was put into use 11-1-05 does it sound too drastic claiming 17500 business miles for the job of Roadside assistance?
i have records, i think i stretched it…but there was times on my job that i would go 20+ miles and not get the call so therefore it is not "technically" on record…but that is wear and tear on my vehicle, gas, tolls, etc. I feel that just because of those many many incidents that 17500 is a fair number.

A good friend of mine owns a Jani-King cleaning franchise and my wife has been employed by him for a couple of years. Starting last year my wife started doing it full-time. I have a couple of questions…

1. We have received about ,000.00 in income during 2007 and have not paid any taxes on that income. What kind of percentage of that income can we expect to pay?

2. Her boss provides all of the supplies, however we use one of our personal vehicle to go from job site to job site. I know she drives approximately 250 miles each week. Can we deduct the mileage as business expense as long as we know what the daily amount is (we have kept track).

3. Should I look at any other deductions?

I know there will be people that will say that we need to speak to an accountant, and we intend to. I am just looking for a little education before we meet with one.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated.
I should have clarified the section about my income. I work for an employer (city government) and our total household income was about 53K including the 12K we made as a contractor.

This year I’m working as an independent contractor and I’ll be given a 1099 for tax purposes. I’m an umpire for an amateur baseball association. I am absolutely required to have internet access and a cell phone.

I did not have a personal cell phone before I started with this association. Can I deduct the full cost of a cell phone if it is used only for business purposes?

I already have a personal computer and internet access at my house. However, now that it is required for a job, can I deduct the cost of the internet service? What if I buy a new computer, is that deductible as long as I keep the old computer for my personal use?

Note: I do not intend to take the home office deduction because I do not have any one particular area of my house that is designated for business use only.

I already know you cannot deduct you actual travel To and FROM work. But my husband’s job requires him to travel to different job sites (construction/maintenance) They always tell me I can’t deduct it either way but have been reading differently. It is his personal car and it does not use a business logo. The company also gives him /week for gas which is not taxed on his paystub. He spends more than , more around . I can’t find the information that shows if you "qualify" for a deduction and I also want to prove to the darn tax preparer that he indeed can deduct if he can. (Last year she said no, we couldn’t). Can someone please point me in the right direction or recommend a tax preparer that actually trains their preparers. We use Jackson Hewitt

When I asked my employer if she was I was getting paid as if I were single with out dependents she said well do you have someone who does your taxes? I did not understand why she asked and said yes. Then she said thats where I claim my dependents. I do not think she understands that the more dependents the less money I will get withheld. I am in a small dental office that is new and just opening. The doctor pays with her own checks but on a sheet of paper marks the percentage of all my deductions. It is her first time being an employer, her first time opening and running her own business.

My question is how I explain to her that I want to get paid as if I had two dependents. I have two children. I get so much taxes taken off I need to either get another job or replace that one.

Hi,
I have a business that well almost always comes out to even, or I end up being negative.
The reason for this is because I always try new things, and well honestly I guess my business is kind of can be considered a hobby because I never make any money.
Anyway, this past year. One of the crazy things I did was buy a truck load of inventory that of course I was not able to sell later. I can easily show that I purchased like um 6k in inventory, and I can also show about 3k in general business cost. However I only brought in like 3k of sales this year. So anyway, what I am wondering is like this year I made about 60k at my regular job, and was taxed at a 25% rate, not including state tax and all the rest. What I need to know is, like when I am negative on my business can that loss flow over as a deduction to the employment part of my taxes so I can get more money back?
Sorry for the confusing story, and insight would be appreciated. In layman’s terms please
Well actually it’s not a hobby I am a freelance graphic designer. Sometimes I love it sometimes I hate it. But I keep working, but I am the type of person that just keeps investing in my business, and well in the end of the year it ends up being a wash. So I was just hoping that the irs doesnt consider it a hobby.

just graduated, so currently have no job, but I just began an online business and started doing pretty well. What is the best way to maximize my profits and minimize my taxes? I know there is a alot of deductions to be made owning a home business, what is the best way to approach this? Should i form a company, LLC, inc., etc…

at the end of the year, am I taxed just on my gross sales, or my profits? My costs will be high as well.

Any 1 good book to explain all this as well?

Thanks