MaryK4
Expert Alumni

Business & farm

The IRS has a presumption that businesses are operating for-profit.  One big thing they look at is if it is a business versus a hobby.  Here is the link to the IRS Audit Guide IRC § 183: Activities Not Engaged in For Profit (ATG) - IRS.  It is wordy but very informative (and of course if you intend to continue as a business, it is time well- invested).  The IRS uses a standard of reasonableness- and keeping your records is a great step.  I like to put it this way: when you have a Schedule C business loss, the loss will offset any other income you have- which results in less tax for the IRS.  I have seen cases where "clever" people added a Schedule C with zero income, $50,000 in expenses and they paid less tax on their full-time W2 income (very obvious).   Even the way you worded your questions shows you are invested in the businesses, it is just not profitable yet.

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