TURF MAG

[HOMER]

There was a real good article in Turf Magazine this month concerning home office deductions. The tax laws have changed this year so it might be worth looking in to.

Just thought I'd pass that along.

Homer

[Richard Martin]

I saw that. Home office deductions are something I avoid like the plague. If there are 2 things that are sure to get you audited it's home office deductions and claiming sub-contractors. While I have no fear of an audit I really don't have the time.

[HOMER]

So what your saying is this might be a trap??????????read the article, take the deduction and still get audited, I hope not. I need all I can get and I qualify per the guidelines. Have no fear, remember, it's a kinder, gentler IRS now, more user friendly.

I hope

Homer

[scottb]

How can I subscribe to this Turf Mag or any magazines for that. I signed up for a year free when I bought my Toro but still havent recevied a copy after 3 months and I dont rember the name. But I am interested in anything to do with the business as I push towards fulltime. So any suggestions you have would be appreciated.

[Charles]

I take the home/office deduction. Now you tell me its a trap LOL. I wont be sleeping to well from now on. I have a room that I just use for paperwork. You can't even have a tv in that room for it to qualify. I use my garage just to store and repair equipment. Its a write off too Like everyone we need all the right offs we can get

[HOMER]

No I didn't say that it was a trap. Well I did, but I was being sarcastic. I fully intend to take the deduction this year and will send pictures with my tax form if I have to!

As for Turf and other magazines, do a search on "Magazines" or "subscriptions", I think either one will give you links to a mess of them!

Homer

[Scraper]

Scottb: For Turf look at the top of the page...there is a link...for the others search...there are posts with links to all of them

[thefarmer4]

Richard Martin

I've deducted sub-contractors for about 4 years now I ha.ve not been audited.

As far as home office deductions I don't have anything that qualifies at this time.

But if I did I would claim it. If they want to audit you they are going to do it. Why give them more $$ than whats is required.

[Greenkeepers]

That was a good article, the laws have loosened compared to past years. You can have a TV in there and the article also says that you can have "other furniture" in the room..

[Eric ELM]

Here are a few magazines:

PRO Magazine
http://www.promagazine.com/
Lawn and Landscape
http://www.lawnandlandscape.com/
Grounds Maintenance
http://www.grounds-mag.com
Landscape Management
http://www.landscapegroup.com
Turf Magazine
http://www.turfmagazine.com/

[scottb]

To Eric and the others Thanks for the mag. info.

[Charles]

Homer, I was referring to the origanal poster too lol.
Greenskeeper, my CPA told me about the tv restriction around 2 years ago. I am glad to hear they have changed that since then.

[plymouthvaliant73]

Scottb and others,

It's normal to wait two or three months before you get the first issue on a free magazine subscription.

I got my first issue of turf two months after signing up online.

FYI

[cantoo]

Use your video camera to take pics of lawns you do, then use the tv and recorder for a write off.

[BUSHMASTER]

hey .... did anyone notice that the article using lawn site was not in thier this month? Why?........

[Evan528]

yeah! i looked for it!

[JimK]

Hey BUSHMASTER ... this is Jim at TURF. The "lawnsite" column wasn't in the December issue because it is our smallest issue of the year ... and we couldn't fit it in. I'm not happy about it, though. The January thread is a great one (no hints) ... but lots of you guys are in there.

And for those of you who ask about the delay in rec'ing the magazine -- just call 800-422-7147 and ask for Kennedy or Kelly. They'll know what the story is ... and if you're in a hurry, they even mail the most recent issue to you that day. They are aware of our relationship to lawnsite and I know they'll help you out ('specially if you tell 'em that Jim sent you -- though they really don't need that. They are great folks).

[Eric ELM]

Thanks for letting us know Jim. I asked Chuck about this last night and he couldn't answer this question either. I'm glad you weren't mad at us here at LawnSite. :D

[Eric ELM]

I got my January issue of TURF today, but I can't find this article Jim. Did they send me the wrong magazine? Bummed in Chicago. :mad:

[1MajorTom]

We can't find it either.


Jodi

[TGCummings]

I took the home office deduction last year, and will take it again. I have the magazine in question, but admit I haven't read this article as of yet. I do my taxes early Feb, and try not to think on them overmuch before then. After reading this thread, I'll probably try and squeeze in the article later today.

The laws on the Home Office began to liberalize with the 1999 tax year. My Turbo Tax program update every year informs me of these changes, and when it walked me through last year I decided to take it. Yes, it's one of those IRS 'red flags', but so is being self-employed. Or an American.

If you qualify for the deduction, take it. As thefarmer4 said, don't give the gov more money than you have to. You've earned it. And, unless you have some serious skeletons in your closet, the worst thing they can do is come back at you, audit you, and ask you for more money later. Especially if your an independent, little guy like myself.

If you're one of the big boys, forget all this and go get yourself a CPA. He'll probably know more than I do. ;)

-TGC