Tax Tip 2021-166: Here’s how businesses can deduct startup costs from their federal taxes

IRS Tax Tips November 9, 2021
Useful Links: IRS.gov Help For Hurricane Victims News Essentials What's Hot News Releases IRS - The Basics IRS Guidance Media Contacts Facts & Figures Around The Nation e-News Subscriptions The Newsroom Topics Multimedia Center Noticias en Español Radio PSAs Tax Scams/Consumer Alerts The Tax Gap Fact Sheets IRS Tax Tips Armed Forces Latest News IRS Resources Compliance & Enforcement News Contact Your Local IRS Office Filing Your Taxes Forms & Instructions Frequently Asked Questions Taxpayer Advocate Service Where to File IRS Social Media	Issue Number: Tax Tip 2021-166 Here's how businesses can deduct startup costs from their federal taxes When starting a business, owners should treat all eligible costs incurred before beginning to operate the business as capital expenditures that are part of their basis in the business. Generally, the business can recover costs for assets through depreciation deductions.   For costs paid or incurred after September 8, 2008, the business can deduct a limited amount of start-up and organizational costs. They can recover the costs they cannot deduct currently over a 180-month period. This recovery period starts with the month the business begins to operate active trade or as a business. Business start-up costs Start-up costs are amounts the business paid or incurred for creating an active trade or business, or investigating the creation or acquisition of an active trade or business. Start-up costs include amounts paid or incurred in connection with an existing activity engaged in for profit, and to produce income in anticipation of the activity becoming an active trade or business. Qualifying costs A start-up cost is recoverable if it meets both of the following requirements: It's a cost a business could deduct if they paid or incurred it to operate an existing active trade or business, in the same field as the one the business entered into. It's a cost a business pays or incurs before the day their active trade or business begins. Start-up costs include amounts paid for the following: An analysis or survey of potential markets, products, labor supply, transportation facilities, etc. Advertisements for the opening of the business. Salaries and wages for employees who are being trained and their instructors. Travel and other necessary costs for securing prospective distributors, suppliers, or customers. Salaries and fees for executives and consultants, or for similar professional services. Nonqualifying costs Start-up costs don't include deductible interest, taxes, or research and experimental costs. Purchasing an active trade or business Recoverable start-up costs for purchasing an active trade or business include only investigative costs incurred during a general search for or preliminary investigation of the business. These are costs that help in deciding whether to purchase a business. Costs incurred to purchase a specific business are capital expenses that can't be amortized.   More information: Publication 535, Business Expenses Deducting Business Expenses Operating a Business Small Business Federal Tax Responsibilities A Guide to Starting a Small Business Share this tip on social media -- #IRSTaxTip: Here's how businesses can deduct startup costs from their federal taxes. https://go.usa.gov/xejq8 Back to Top         Thank you for subscribing to IRS Tax Tips, an IRS e-mail service. For more information on federal taxes please visit IRS.gov. This message was distributed automatically from the IRS Tax Tips mailing list. Please Do Not Reply To This Message.

 

---

Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

---

This email was sent to business.solutions.ve@gmail.com by: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) · Internal Revenue Service · 1111 Constitution Ave. N.W. · Washington DC 20535