Can I claim all business expense 2016 even I didn't receive any business income last year?

[myhanhsj]

I am general contractor, I do services for different companies in year 2015 and filed schedule C in year 2015. Last year 2016, I didn't receive any business income. Can I still can claim business expenses 2016? I hope this year 2017 I will get some business income.

[AndreaC1 · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can still input your business expenses even if you had no income or a small amount of income. It looks like you are using TurboTax Home & Business desktop software, so I will provide steps below for how to start the Schedule C to enter your business expenses. 

• Click Search Topics in the top of the software screen
• Type in Schedule C and select it in the list and click Ok
• This takes you to the Did you have any income and expenses for a business in 2016? screen
  
• Answer Yes and follow prompts to enter your business information 
• Once you've gone through a few screens, you will get to the Your Business screen
• Scroll down to Business Expenses section there and start inputting your expenses there

Another way to get here is to:

• Click Business tab and Continue
• Select I'll choose what I work on and then Start or Update next to Profit or Loss from Business
• This takes you to the Did you have any income and expenses for a business in 2016? screen
  
• Answer Yes and follow prompts