Civil Rights
Block on Trump's Asylum Ban Upheld by Supreme Court
Coffee and donuts are somewhat common workplace perks. But for small business owners, those simple daily indulgences can also add up to a significant tax deduction.
American workers spend on average about $1,000 a year on coffee, a new survey finds, according to Reuters. But if you're picking up the tab to keep your workers content, your coffee costs could be much higher.
This may just be the caffeine talking, but three overarching questions come to mind when considering small business tax deductions for coffee and donuts:
Small business owners are generally entitled to deduct the costs of refreshments and similar fringe benefits for their employees, one tax attorney advised in the San Francisco Chronicle.
"To qualify, the expenses must be small and furnished by the employer merely as a means of promoting the health, goodwill, contentment or efficiency" of workers, the tax lawyer wrote.
The key test: Are your coffee and donut expenses "ordinary and necessary" for carrying on your business? Lots of legal challenges hinge on this question, so it may be best to consult a local tax attorney before trying to come up with your own justification.
Many small business expenses are subject to a 50% deduction limitation, but the tax code provides exceptions that may cover coffee and donuts, one tax accountant explains for Inside Tucson Business. In general, small businesses can deduct 100% of the following costs:
Receipts are required, but they may not suffice to establish a valid business purpose, the Tucson tax accountant warns. Again, check with a tax attorney to see what else you may need to deduct coffee and donuts from your small business taxes.
Related Resources:
Sign into your Legal Forms and Services account to manage your estate planning documents.
Sign InCreate an account allows to take advantage of these benefits: