Painting

[blessed mom]

I finally couldn't take the hand prints on our chalky walls and decided to paint the main kid areas and the hall because the kids touch that area going into the bathroom. The decision to do this now was because of the daycare, however it benefits us as a family as well. How would I write this off? 99 percent is in the childcare area...the only area that is not is the back part of the hall. Thanks.

Also, I am really stressing over taxes...already yes I know...what's wrong with me. LOL. This is our first year so I guess that is why. I talked to one daycare tax expert but she wants three hundred up front non refundable and that just seems like so much money. We are in the east bay of San Francisco...is it appropriate for me to ask for tax references here? Feeling totally in the dark as to who to have help us.

Thanks again...as always this site keeps me sane!

[TomCopeland]

Painting

As a general rule you can use your time-space % to determine the business portion of expenses that are used both by your business and by your family. You could also use an actual business use percent. To do this you would need to calculate the actual business use of your expense. Guessing is not favored. In your case, if the play area is used 100% for your business, deduct 100% of the cost of painting the room. Otherwise, you could estimate the business use of the areas you are painting. For small expenses (less than a few hundred dollars) the easiest way to go is to use your time-space %.

Here's a directory of tax preparers who have experience with family child care:http://nafcc.org/index.php?option=co...297&Itemid=105

[blessed mom]

Thanks Tom, it was about five hundred to paint...I used the "good" stuff that was on sale so that I could wash it and so it would be durable. I have one room that is 100% for the kids, but the other area is also used by the family so I am thinking I'll use the t/s percentage.

Oh and thank you so much for the link on tax preparers happyface