123go wrote:
- quote -

not interpreting tax law.

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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On Sep 15, 7:25 pm, "removeps-gro...[at]yahoo.com" <removeps-
gro...[at]yahoo.com> wrote:

- quote -

I keep 95% of my receipts above $35 and maybe 80% below $35 . Is this
good enough to convince an auditor I am 'honest'?

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"Harlan Lunsford" <hlunsford[at]bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:48CF1E75.7030409[at]bellsouth.net...
- quote -

If I don't travel for business, I can pee for free. thus, the toilet
expense must be a business expense.

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Seth wrote:
- quote -

be a personal expense, similar to the personal massages she gives me.
Could I thus deduct those personal "massages"? away from home?

ChEAr$,
Harlan

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Seth wrote:

- quote -

That is not a general rule. Laundry is specifically defined as a travel
expense (see Pub 463, table 1-1), so that is not a relevant example.

Laundry is specifically excluded as an incidental expense, same page.

- quote -

No. Even people required as a condition of employment to get frequent
haircuts (e.g. military members) do not have a deductible employee or
business-related expense for that.

Besides, when you start talking about "months long" business trip, you
raise questions about tax home.

Pub 463 mentions an optional method for deducting incidental expenses at
a flat daily rate.

Beyond that, it's facts and circumstances. See Pub 463. Here's one,
how about hotel in-call massages you pay for to relieve the stress of
traveling on business?

-Mark Bole

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In article <48CF1E75.7030409[at]bellsouth.net> ,
Harlan Lunsford <hlunsford[at]bellsouth.net> wrote:
- quote -

On a business trip, stuff I could do for free at home (if I were home)
but that costs money because I'm travelling is deductible.
(E.g. laundry.)

- quote -

Suppose normally your wife cuts your hair (free), but on a months-long
business trip you go to a barber. Would that be deductible?

Seth

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Mark Bole wrote:
- quote -

Like haircuts. (but my hair GROWS on company time!)

ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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On Sep 15, 6:40 pm, Mark Bole <ma...[at]pacbell.net> wrote:
- quote -

In either case you need receipts. Except in the case of 5%, maybe
there's a chance you can get away with it? Is this true?


- quote -

Yeah, it's possible if they have good records in a computer, like at
companies with a web storefront. Stores like Circuit City which have
a web and physical store presence, may even be able to help you if you
bought everything at the physical store, but I'd need to test that
out.

- quote -

If you were on a business trip in the US or France, and had toilet
fees, they would be deductible. I don't know anywhere in the US that
has these fees though.

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removeps-groups[at]yahoo.com wrote:
- quote -

Do you have contemporaneous notes or logs to show the business purpose
of the expense?

- quote -

Let's try two answers, just hypothetically. 5%, and 50%.


- quote -

"even for small amounts of money" ?


- quote -

They also have bus fare in the U.S. Are toilet fees deductible in
France? I don't think they are in U.S., unless you are in the business
of providing toilets or toilet-related services.

-Mark Bole

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On Sep 15, 12:24 pm, nonse...[at]mynonsense.net wrote:

- quote -

What is the ratio of expenses without receipts to total expenses?

Often you can get receipts by contacting the company.

- quote -

There's no limit. But if a receipt is not readily available, then
it's OK. Examples I can think of are bus fare and toilet fees (they
have this in France).

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I am quite dilligent about keeping all business expense receipts even
for small amounts of money. My question is should I still report an
expense if I have lost the receipt but do have credit card statements
to proove it?

I would think an auditor would appreciate my diligence with record
keeping and be convinced my expenses for which I do not have actual
receipts are legitimate?

Also is there any minimum amount for which no receipt is required,
like $25 and under expenses?

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