Deducting telephone expenses

[Josiegirl]

I have a landline and a cellphone, both of which are used equally for personal and business. Am I correct to assume I cannot use either one of them as a business expense?

[TomCopeland]

telephone

I have a landline and a cellphone, both of which are used equally for personal and business. Am I correct to assume I cannot use either one of them as a business expense?

You cannot deduct the cost of the first phone line into your home. This could be your landline or your cell phone line. You can deduct the business portion of the second phone line (use your time-space % or an actual business use %).

[lovemykidstoo]

I am curious about phone deductions too. I used to have a landline through AT&T and was told I could only deduct the call waiting feature, which was $6 or $7. Now it's wrapped up into my tv cable bill through Charter. I don't know how my accountant did it this year, my husband took it in, but what's your opinion on that?

[TomCopeland]

telephone

I am curious about phone deductions too. I used to have a landline through AT&T and was told I could only deduct the call waiting feature, which was $6 or $7. Now it's wrapped up into my tv cable bill through Charter. I don't know how my accountant did it this year, my husband took it in, but what's your opinion on that?

If you have cable/tv/computer on your bill, divide by 3 and that represents your phone costs. If you have only one phone line, you can't deduct it. If you have more than one phone line, divide again by the number of phones and then multiply by the business use % of the phone you use for your business.