Community Forums

deprived · 09-19-2017, 05:42 PM

We used to work at home when we still had a sticks-n-bricks.

Of course we took our allowable deductions for home-office use including my painting studio and two bedrooms that were converted to office-use. Now that we do essentially the same work while on the road I am wondering how (or if) those deductions might work in a motorhome.

Our accountant is doing some research for us on the matter but I was hoping maybe somebody here had actual, first-hand, personal experience in this area.

THANKS!!

BirchyBoy · 09-19-2017, 06:23 PM

Doesn't the IRS code require the use of certain rooms for 100% business use? That may be able to be "fudged" in a house, but I doubt an RV would be. Check this out:

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/smal...mall-business/

Sweetbriar · 09-19-2017, 06:35 PM

Going to be very difficult if even possible to claim the coach for business purposes.

Here's a quick write up. Open the link in the article to the tax court ruling.

RV Income Tax Help: Tax Court disallows RV Business Deductions

bdpreece · 09-19-2017, 09:18 PM

You can either take the mileage deduction if you move the coach from place to place as a business expense or you can depreciate the coach. I personally don't advise taking the depreciation method since when you sell the coach if you have depreciated it below what you sell or trade it in for that then becomes income. Had a friend who depreciated his coach down to zero then sold it, The profit put him in a higher tax bracket which really hurt.

Dan McMartin · 09-19-2017, 10:35 PM

We could never take my wife's office as a home office deduction due to the 100% use rule. But she kept files cabinets in our dining room. It was only 10 square feet and not the whole room but it wasn't available for other uses (namely the built in bar I had planned

). I would think you could do that same in an RV. I doubt you could claim the dining table, for instance, since it's not likely it's not available or used for other purposes, but a cabinet or storage bay...maybe if it's used was exclusively business.

But I'm not an expert and I don't play one on TV. I just did what Turbo tax told me to do.

deprived · 09-22-2017, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweetbriar

Going to be very difficult if even possible to claim the coach for business purposes.

Here's a quick write up. Open the link in the article to the tax court ruling.

RV Income Tax Help: Tax Court disallows RV Business Deductions

WOW - thanks so much for this. I've forwarded this to my accountant as well.

deprived · 09-22-2017, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdpreece

You can either take the mileage deduction if you move the coach from place to place as a business expense or you can depreciate the coach. I personally don't advise taking the depreciation method since when you sell the coach if you have depreciated it below what you sell or trade it in for that then becomes income. Had a friend who depreciated his coach down to zero then sold it, The profit put him in a higher tax bracket which really hurt.

Excellent advice.

marjoa · 09-25-2017, 07:48 AM

I've been a small business owner for 28yrs and when in our S&B all the space, computers, equipment, etc. was written off as a business deduction. A % of home utilities and mortgage/taxes was also deducted. The areas of our home were dedicated space to the business. Never had a problem with the IRS. Now on the road, I've discussed this with my CPA whom I've had all these 28yrs. and he said, can't take mileage but can still can take equipment, computers and the amount of space in the MH that is dedicated to running the business. I have built a custom desk computer area in the MH to run the business + any bays that are dedicated to business equip is deductible. It's because this is our HOME. If were weekend warriors, this would not apply to anything.

Grit n Grace · 09-30-2017, 07:23 PM

We are self employed in Flooring installation and not ready to retire. Currently looking to buy a DP personally and travel to areas that I can work as well. I feel that owning a LLC in current state having couple guy working and I create a separate LLC for my traveling business I will write off most expenses by leasing the vehicle because it's no different than if I traveled and stayed in hotels. RV payment, maintenance, campground fees and food expenses are what I'm looking to cover.

wnytaxman · 10-01-2017, 06:15 AM

There have been a number of cases regarding the business deduction of RV's and the related expenses, particularly depreciation. I have yet to find one where the taxpayers won. The one cited where the Court threw the deduction out based on the exclusive business use test is one of the most recent. Another was a couple who sold RV insurance and used the RV to attend rallies and shows and sold insurance from their RV.

The Courts tend to frown on RV's as business deductions. It is similar to the situation years ago when owning and "renting out" yachts was the tax fad which also got shot down.