Tax Question-Phone

[Thriftylady]

I want to make sure I am understanding this right from Tom's book. We have three cell phones in our home that we share a plan on. DH has his in the semi (required for his job and most expensive since we also pay unlimited internet and such based on his needs) so it is only here when he is. We had DD's phone and my phone. They are with each of us. So home mostly but if DD goes to work she takes her phone. Am I correct in the understanding that I can claim the T/S on my phone since it isn't the only line?

[TomCopeland]

phone

I want to make sure I am understanding this right from Tom's book. We have three cell phones in our home that we share a plan on. DH has his in the semi (required for his job and most expensive since we also pay unlimited internet and such based on his needs) so it is only here when he is. We had DD's phone and my phone. They are with each of us. So home mostly but if DD goes to work she takes her phone. Am I correct in the understanding that I can claim the T/S on my phone since it isn't the only line?

You can't deduct any of the monthly fee for the first line into your home. You can count your husband's line as the first one. Therefore, you can deduct the time-space % of the phone you use for your business.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

Wait, So providers can count their cell phone as time/space %? happyface My cell phone is used for business and personal, so how would we get the percentage for the business portion? And how do we prove it?

[Thriftylady]

It can't be your only line in the house. So if it is your only phone then no. If not print the bill and use T/S.

[TomCopeland]

phone

Wait, So providers can count their cell phone as time/space %? happyface My cell phone is used for business and personal, so how would we get the percentage for the business portion? And how do we prove it?

As long as the cell phone is not the first line into your home you can deduct the business portion. Using your time-space % is a reasonable way to determine the business portion. Or, you could tract how many business vs. personal calls you use the phone over several months and use that percentage.

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

How do I find the T/S%? It is not the only phone; my husband has a cell phone also. Trying to track how long I spend on the phone for business vs personal use sounds like more trouble than it's worth I assume texting counts, as well?

[Thriftylady]

How do I find the T/S%? It is not the only phone; my husband has a cell phone also. Trying to track how long I spend on the phone for business vs personal use sounds like more trouble than it's worth I assume texting counts, as well?

Tom Copeland has great books to help with this. He also has a blog. Let me see if I can find the blog posting. You have to measure your house, use your attendance records to see how many hours kids were in care. Figure out your time spent on childcare when kids were not there. You can then use that to deduct some of your utilities, water, etc.

[Thriftylady]

Here see if this helps.

http://tomcopelandblog.com/the-time-space-percentage-quiz

[Josiegirl]

All these years I was under the impression we couldn't deduct any phone expenses unless we used it solely for our business and had a separate listing for it??
I've had a landline forever, but got a cellphone 7 years ago, one of 4 on a family plan. So I can deduct according to the T/S% from my one phone that I use, correct?
Somewhere I got it all wrong. Hmmm, learn something new every day!

[TomCopeland]

phone

All these years I was under the impression we couldn't deduct any phone expenses unless we used it solely for our business and had a separate listing for it??
I've had a landline forever, but got a cellphone 7 years ago, one of 4 on a family plan. So I can deduct according to the T/S% from my one phone that I use, correct?
Somewhere I got it all wrong. Hmmm, learn something new every day!

You got bad information somewhere. You don't need a separate business phone line that you use exclusively for your business. So, yes you can deduct the time-space % of your one phone you use for your business.