It seems like I'm always struggling over whether to put small expenses under "Supplies" or "Other Misc. Expenses." TurboTax's instructions say "Supply expenses are incidental items that cost $200 or less or last less than a year" - which to me makes it sound like supplies can be virtually anything (except inventory or items over $200). Thus are "supplies" really "all miscellaneous items under $200," and "other misc" is really "other misc over $200?"
Note: I'm a sole proprietor, and do not have a separate office space.
Some specific examples: where would each of these most appropriately go?
- chargers/AC adapters
- wires
- tools (< $200)
- cases/containers (i.e. for a laptop/phone)
- headphones (< $50 for use only while working)
- postage
The official IRS instructions for this line says "...the cost of books, professional instruments, equipment, etc., if you normally use them within a year." Many of these smaller items I listed are not used completely within a year...but then, neither are many of TurboTax's examples (i.e. flash drives, calculators, storage and filing boxes) - which seems to contradict the IRS's instructions. I can't seem to find where the $200 threshold mentioned in TurboTax comes from.
