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Imaginary scenario

I make $100 somehow with no investment
Then i use it to advertise but unluckily i dont make anything back from the investment.


That would mean $100 biz expenses and $0 net profit

Does that mean my taxable income is $0?

This is just a scenario...no brackets nothing...just imagine 100$ falls within taxable bracket and that i'm not free under minimum income for tax purposes.


Also
Is there a limit on the advertising costs I can use to reduce my taxable income under biz expenses?

I hope there is no limit because that would make no sense at all.

Also
Lets say i buy an ad here on warriorforum

I get a digital receipt thats it....is that all i need to present when i file my tax returns when i show then the deductions?


Thanks
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    You need an accountant to answer these questions.

    I'm not one, but I'll answer as for what I know about tax law and practice ...

    Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

    That would mean $100 biz expenses and $0 net profit

    Does that mean my taxable income is $0?
    Yes. You can deduct what you've spent on advertising, even if it was advertising that didn't work. You pay tax on the net result after deducting expenses from income. Usually.

    Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

    Is there a limit on the advertising costs I can use to reduce my taxable income under biz expenses?
    I think not, generally. But if it looks like you've been overspending on advertising by "buying it from a friend" or something that might be a "fiddle", the tax authorities might decide to investigate. It will depend on the circumstances. But in general, if you run your business badly and overspend on deductible items, you can still deduct them, as long as you have proper receipts/evidence for them, and so on.

    Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

    Lets say i buy an ad here on warriorforum

    I get a digital receipt thats it....is that all i need to present when i file my tax returns when i show then the deductions?
    Yes, that would normally be enough to "claim" it as an expense. It will show on either a credit-card statement or a PayPal account print-out? A tax office should normally accept either.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kay King
      The OP has no country of residence listed - so not sure how anyone could offer tax advice as every country is different.

      Practical advice is if you 'investing' and losing money every time - you might want to change your business model.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        Practical advice is if you 'investing' and losing money every time - you might want to change your business model.
        Also true.

        I seem to think from a recent conversation that the OP is in Canada. I think they have a fairly "normal" sort of "Western tax structure" in which the general principles of "profit" and "deductions" will be about the same as anywhere? But I'm not qualified, and only guessing.

        .
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        • Profile picture of the author Joshua P
          Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

          Also true.

          I seem to think from a recent conversation that the OP is in Canada. I think they have a fairly "normal" sort of "Western tax structure" in which the general principles of "profit" and "deductions" will be about the same as anywhere? But I'm not qualified, and only guessing.

          .
          Thanks a lot...appreciate the help
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      • Profile picture of the author Joshua P
        Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

        The OP has no country of residence listed - so not sure how anyone could offer tax advice as every country is different.

        Practical advice is if you 'investing' and losing money every time - you might want to change your business model.
        Well its canada I guess rules are not much different than the states.
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  • Profile picture of the author Joshua P
    Okay so the decuction on biz expenses and such advertising is 100 percent right?

    Not like 40c per dollar or something...i read sonerhing similar 25c per dollar for travelling cost somewhere...what about such stuffs as advertising?

    I guess its full but then need a confirmation
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
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      Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

      Okay so the decuction on biz expenses and such advertising is 100 percent right?
      I think so, normally, yes.

      Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

      i read sonerhing similar 25c per dollar for travelling cost somewhere...
      I suspect that probably relates to something like "people using their own privately owned cars for business use", or something similar? Anyway, something with a different context from what you're asking about, in this thread.

      Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

      I guess its full but then need a confirmation
      This is why you should always be getting tax information from an accountant or a tax office, rather than in a forum, really, where people will try to be helpful but may not appreciate the exact circumstances and can easily give inappropriate advice.

      .
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      • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
        Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

        This is why you should always be getting tax information from an accountant or a tax office, rather than in a forum, really, where people will try to be helpful but may not appreciate the exact circumstances and can easily give inappropriate advice. .
        Read the above paragraph. Then re-read it. Then re-read it again.

        It doesn't matter how well intentioned and sincere our "advice" is, only someone qualified, and more important licensed to advise on tax matters can help you out.

        If the tax office decides you're doing something dodgy, "Someone on the Warrior Forum said it was OK" will not be acceptable as an excuse for (potentially) breaking the law.

        That applies whether you're in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, Kazakhstan or Albania.

        Even if you have to pay someone for genuine advice, the fee you pay for that advice may be tax deductible as well*.

        *Once again, check with a licensed, qualified professional on that.
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        • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
          Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

          That applies whether you're in Canada, the US, the UK, Australia, Kazakhstan or Albania.
          What about Somalia?

          See it's little slips like that that cost people an arm and a leg.
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          • Profile picture of the author whateverpedia
            Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

            What about Somalia?
            Does Somalia have a tax office?

            Does it have a government?

            Does it have any institutions of state?

            On the other hand, you're not likely to have any income anyway.

            Swings and roundabouts.
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            • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
              Originally Posted by whateverpedia View Post

              Swings and roundabouts...
              ...and games of pirates!
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  • Profile picture of the author ronrule
    Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

    Imaginary scenario

    I make $100 somehow with no investment
    Then i use it to advertise but unluckily i dont make anything back from the investment.


    That would mean $100 biz expenses and $0 net profit

    Does that mean my taxable income is $0?
    [edit: after typing my answer I just realized you were in Canada, but I'm leaving it up for others who come across the thread]

    In that exact scenario (assuming you're in the United States and you spent the $100 on a marketing campaign), then no, you wouldn't be responsible for paying taxes on that $100. Media costs are a legitimate deduction, and if you roll your revenue back into marketing then technically you aren't profitable by the IRS's definition.

    Be careful though - the IRS does consider some expenses YOU might define as "marketing" ineligible for deductions. If you send out samples or gift bags, you might consider that marketing but you're only legally allowed to deduct up to $25 per gift. Meaning if you're give 100 people $100 worth of products as part of a promotion, you can't write off $10,000 - you can only write off $2,500.

    "Sales Activities" have limits, media does not. Keep this in mind. If you print a banner and stick it on your car, you can deduct the cost of your banner but not the cost of your car or your mileage while you're driving it around (there are separate allowances for mileage during business use, just don't throw it in the marketing bin - they will nail you).

    Disclaimer: I'm just talking about the Federal level btw. Individual states have different rules on what's allowed and what's not, so you'll need to talk to an accountant in your state.
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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
    Originally Posted by Joshua P View Post

    Imaginary scenario

    I make $100 somehow with no investment
    Then i use it to advertise but unluckily i dont make anything back from the investment.


    That would mean $100 biz expenses and $0 net profit

    Does that mean my taxable income is $0?

    It's technically taxable as soon as you recieve it.

    The reinvestment / expenditure is to be considered separate and therefore you should have the $100 income in your books (to be taxed) and the $100 as an expense.

    In and outs.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
      Originally Posted by Daniel Evans View Post

      I'm not sure why you're being told that the $100 isn't taxable.

      It's technically taxable as soon as you recieve it.

      The reinvestment / expenditure is to be considered separate and therefore you should have the $100 income in your books (to be taxed) and the $100 as an expense.

      In and outs.
      I'm not sure I follow you here, Daniel. Corporations are taxed on net income. His $100 is revenue. Revenue - Expenses = Net Income. In his scenario his Net Income is $100 - $100 =$0. Unless Canada doesn't follow GAAP and uses some other standard.
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      • Profile picture of the author Daniel Evans
        Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

        I'm not sure I follow you here, Daniel. Corporations are taxed on net income. His $100 is revenue. Revenue - Expenses = Net Income. In his scenario his Net Income is $100 - $100 =$0. Unless Canada doesn't follow GAAP and uses some other standard.
        Yeah I agree. What I mean is both the income and the expense should be detailed as two entities in properly maintained books, rather than just considering it as a singular nothing.
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
          Originally Posted by Daniel Evans View Post

          Yeah I agree. What I mean is both the income and the expense should be detailed as two entities in properly maintained books, rather than just considering it as a singular nothing.
          I got you. You are using "income" where I'd use revenue or sales. That tripped me up.
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  • Profile picture of the author dlinq
    Most money spent on your business can be used as a text brake. Just remember to not blur the line because this can get you in trouble. If you have even have doubt call your account to make sure.
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    • Profile picture of the author SteveJohnson
      Originally Posted by dlinq View Post

      Most money spent on your business can be used as a text brake. Just remember to not blur the line because this can get you in trouble. If you have even have doubt call your account to make sure.
      That's to keep someone from typing too fast? What has that to do with taxes?
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