tax writeoffs for full timers who work from road

[Zhidoni]

Hi Folks
need advice from those who have experiencewith this issue. My wife and i are full timers, and we both have businesses. (she sells buttons & designer fabrics, I do websites and e-marketing consulting)
We are wondering how people in our situation are handling such things as rv park and camping fees, fuel costs, maintenance, repairs. We have chosen not to write off the actual cost of the rv. And, does anyone know of any other online resources for info, eg technomadia?
thanks!!

[jorbill2or]

Yosemite Sam1 wrote:
The rule is "related business expenses".

Examples: A room converted into an office devoted to running your business. Proportionately tax deductible calculating from total rental paid or the depreciation of your house.

Gas to deliver your product or meet the client. Again, proportionate cost in depreciation if you are using your car for your business.

I don't know how campground fees can be deductible since land is already part of a lease rental in an alternative scenario that you are renting an office or a factory for production.

In our case during an event campground fees are no different than a hotel rental while attending a business conference . we do NOT deduct year round campground fees, only while at a specific event.

[Lwiddis]

What does you tax professional say? A CPA or EA I would hope.

[Yosemite_Sam1]

The rule is "related business expenses".

Examples: A room converted into an office devoted to running your business. Proportionately tax deductible calculating from total rental paid or the depreciation of your house.

Gas to deliver your product or meet the client. Again, proportionate cost in depreciation if you are using your car for your business.

I don't know how campground fees can be deductible since land is already part of a lease rental in an alternative scenario that you are renting an office or a factory for production.

[2oldman]

Do your taxes on Turbotax. They'll guide you through it.

[jorbill2or]

Can only say what we do. My DW is a independent contractor and manages a professional organization, for peanuts I might add ! we/she writes off several items.
She organizes and or attends several conferences across the country, travel mileage is taken, campground fees also but only while she is at or prepping the conference ,not all the time . She also meets with local Members meetings representing the organization and taking mileage ($.58 a mile) to those things also. Most of our travel mileage is deducted as she is always scheduling meetings along our travel. She also fly's sometimes out of state when its not possible to travel in the RV. SF to NY for example ,If those expenses (air car rental hotel )are not reimbursed they are all written off. We do not use the RV as a office expense ...or depreciation just too much trouble.My weak understanding is it causes issues when you sell or trade the RV Her non employee contractor income is low enough that its almost all written off with just those small items .Most of what she does is like a volunteer being reimbursed
We had a tax consultant go through all the items the first year she started her "job"
I agree you should also.

[TenOC]

You can deduct all the cost of your "home office". TurboTax has a very good online forum to ask questions on.

[naturist]

I would like to suggest that soliciting legal advice (which it is, despite the tax component) from faceless/nameless strangers on open forums on the internet is unwise, as well as dangerous. I would heartily recommend consulting a CPA for this advice. You will not only NOT have to wade through a bazillion contrary (and mostly ill-informed) opinions to find ones you can use, but you will have advice very unlikely to be flat out wrong/illegal.

Yes, it is likely to cost you a hundred bucks or so, but as a small business owner married to an accountant with many years experience in corporate accounting, that would be money well spent just for the peace of mind.