5 Aug 09 Pet Alert - Congress considers pet expenses tax deduction

[tanza]

http://www.pijac.org/_documents/us_hr_3501_happy_act.pdf

[nobarkus]

OK, lets see what the deductions are this year.
1 chewed up leather couch $1,200.
25 toys $250.00.
Vet visit for swallowing a dead squirrel $300.
House training expenses, i.e carpet cleaning $150.
Gas traveling to and from dog park $75.00

Thanks for this alert Pat!

[tanza]

Hope that it passes…. I'll take anything....

[tanza]

@nobarkus:

OK, lets see what the deductions are this year.
1 chewed up leather couch $1,200.
25 toys $250.00.
Vet visit for swallowing a dead squirrel $300.
House training expenses, i.e carpet cleaning $150.
Gas traveling to and from dog park $75.00

Thanks for this alert Pat!

Oh and having a Basenji…. PRICELESS.....

[nobarkus]

@tanza:

Oh and having a Basenji…. PRICELESS.....

Good one! LOL

[wizard]

Nobarkus - I don't think you'd get to claim the chewed couch - unless you put it in the toys category

[Basenjimamma]

Tanza wrote

Quote:
Originally Posted by nobarkus
OK, lets see what the deductions are this year.
1 chewed up leather couch $1,200.
25 toys $250.00.
Vet visit for swallowing a dead squirrel $300.
House training expenses, i.e carpet cleaning $150.
Gas traveling to and from dog park $75.00

Oh and having a Basenji…. PRICELESS.....

---

Too funny…lets hope we get some help..

[renaultf1]

That would be fantastic if it passed this year - especially since Brando's broken leg has already run about $1,500, and when it is all said and done (provided no more surgery - that would be $2,500) it will be a little over $2,000.

[Kananga]

I'd imagine most breeders already use an existing deduction, depending on the dog (if their "pet" is used for breeding, etc).

[tanza]

@Kananga:

I'd imagine most breeders already use an existing deduction, depending on the dog (if their "pet" is used for breeding, etc).

Not hobby breeders, it is not a business to them, unless you are registered as a business there are no deductions you can take… and then at some point you have to show a profit, you can't just keep taking loss after loss, year after year. While I breed, I certainly don't make any profit....gggg... and my Basenjis are pets first....

[Vicki]

@nobarkus:

OK, lets see what the deductions are this year.
1 chewed up leather couch $1,200.
25 toys $250.00.
Vet visit for swallowing a dead squirrel $300.
House training expenses, i.e carpet cleaning $150.
Gas traveling to and from dog park $75.00

Thanks for this alert Pat!

Your post cracked me up!
I have a leather ottoman that is missing one corner!!
25 toys - and my Bs would rather play with old socks!

The newest Basenji likes to bring clods of red clay mud in the house - new Hoover steam cleaner!

[Kananga]

@tanza:

Not hobby breeders, it is not a business to them, unless you are registered as a business there are no deductions you can take… and then at some point you have to show a profit, you can't just keep taking loss after loss, year after year. While I breed, I certainly don't make any profit....gggg... and my Basenjis are pets first....

Yea, but then it'd be a Grey area with deducting expenses on your personal income (if this change took place).

Essentially you're operating as a non-profit. Do you and other hobby breeders setup an entity to operate out of? or is this all done as an individual?

And I'm simply curious about the concerns over liability and such. Whenever money is being exchange for goods (I know…. Basenjis are not "goods", but this is more from a legal prospective), you have issues of tax and general liability. Obviously not showing a profit eliminates the tax liability, but there is still general legal liability. There would be a tax liability, of course, if you were to take deductions on expenses that are usually offset by realized income. That's why I think the deduction for pet expenses could be tricky. I can't see the IRS liking it much.

[nobarkus]

@Vicki:

Your post cracked me up!
I have a leather ottoman that is missing one corner!!
25 toys - and my Bs would rather play with old socks!

The newest Basenji likes to bring clods of red clay mud in the house - new Hoover steam cleaner!

I had a RW that would bring in tanbark and chew it up on the white couch.

Hey that reminds me, chewed up socks and underwear replacement $20.00.

[tanza]

@Kananga:

Yea, but then it'd be a Grey area with deducting expenses on your personal income (if this change took place).

Essentially you're operating as a non-profit. Do you and other hobby breeders setup an entity to operate out of? or is this all done as an individual?

And I'm simply curious about the concerns over liability and such. Whenever money is being exchange for goods (I know…. Basenjis are not "goods", but this is more from a legal prospective), you have issues of tax and general liability. Obviously not showing a profit eliminates the tax liability, but there is still general legal liability. There would be a tax liability, of course, if you were to take deductions on expenses that are usually offset by realized income. That's why I think the deduction for pet expenses could be tricky. I can't see the IRS liking it much.

No, I operate as a hobby….. not a non-profit. Done as an individual (I only speak for myself)

[nobarkus]

@tanza:

No, I operate as a hobby….. not a non-profit. Done as an individual (I only speak for myself)

Hopefully you'll get to write off your hobby.

[tanza]

@nobarkus:

Hopefully you'll get to write off your hobby.

I would be happy as a pet owner to write off expenses especially for my elders care that has nothing to do with breeding, as then they are just my pets.

[nobarkus]

I been thinking for many years I'd love to be able to write off the expenses. Just the vet charges I'd be happy about.

[tanza]

@nobarkus:

I been thinking for many years I'd love to be able to write off the expenses. Just the vet charges I'd be happy about.

Exactly… elder care especially can be expensive... especially these days...

[nobarkus]

I think they're teaching the vets students how to gouge the poor pet owners now. Seems taking my first Basenji to the vet in the 70s and 80s wasn't any big deal as far as $.

[tanza]

@nobarkus:

I think they're teaching the vets students how to gouge the poor pet owners now. Seems taking my first Basenji to the vet in the 70s and 80s wasn't any big deal as far as $.

I don't think that… everyone needs to make a living... don't forget... no one is paying for equipment/instruments that are needed for them to run a practice... not like they can submit to Medicare... I am sure that some push the envelope... but most are just trying to cover their costs. They deserve to make a decent living too....