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Level 1
June 1, 2019
Solved

Where do I report bad business debt in TurboTax home & business

  • June 1, 2019
  • 10 replies
  • 62 views
I know this is reported on Schedule C, I just can't find the line when going through Home and Business to use.
Best answer by Tonita

To enter your bad debt expense:

1.       Log-on to your TurboTax Home & Business software.

2.       Click on "Take Me to My Return"

3.       Click on the "Business" tab

4.       Click on "Continue"

5.       Click on "I'll Choose What I Work on"

6.       Locate "Business Income & Expenses" heading, click on "Update or Start"

7.       Click "Edit" next to your business name or if none click "Add Business"

8.       Scroll down to "Business Expenses" section

9.       Click "Start" next to Other Miscellaneous Expenses

10.   You will enter the description of the bad debt and the amount on the next screen.

Let me know if you have further questions.



10 replies

TonitaAnswer
Level 10
June 1, 2019

To enter your bad debt expense:

1.       Log-on to your TurboTax Home & Business software.

2.       Click on "Take Me to My Return"

3.       Click on the "Business" tab

4.       Click on "Continue"

5.       Click on "I'll Choose What I Work on"

6.       Locate "Business Income & Expenses" heading, click on "Update or Start"

7.       Click "Edit" next to your business name or if none click "Add Business"

8.       Scroll down to "Business Expenses" section

9.       Click "Start" next to Other Miscellaneous Expenses

10.   You will enter the description of the bad debt and the amount on the next screen.

Let me know if you have further questions.



Level 2
February 13, 2022

On TurboTax Online go to Deductions & Credits. Other deductions and look for Non business debt. You will enter the details of the debt. 

Carl
Level 11
Level 11
June 17, 2019

What kind of bad debt? It matters. For example, if your business provided services or product to a client and that client never paid you, then there's nothing to write off. You can't "write off" that which you didn't pay taxes on to start with.

Did your company loan money to another entity maybe, and you've given up trying to collect the payback?

bclee
Level 5
January 12, 2020

True!  https://www.irs.gov/publications/p535#en_US_2018_publink1000154202  says

You can claim a business bad debt deduction only if the amount owed to you was previously included in gross income. This applies to amounts owed to you from all sources of taxable income, including sales, services, rents, and interest.  

from IRS Publ 535 ch.10

Level 15
January 13, 2020

Most small businesses run on a cash accounting basis (rather than an accrual basis).  If this is the case with your business, you will not have included the income from that debt, so there is no bad debt to report.

 

If your business is on an accrual basis, then you can use the steps outlined below to report the bad debt.

 

 

As Carl mentioned, if you loan money to a client, supplier, employee, or distributor for a business reason and you’re unable to collect the loan after attempting to do so, you have a business bad debt, which can be entered as an expense of the business.

 

To enter the bad debt in TurboTax, please follow these steps:

  1. In TurboTax Home & Business, click on the Business tab  > Continue > I'll choose what I work on
  2. On the Let's gather your [business] info screen, click the Start/Update button next to Business Income and Expenses.
  3. On the screen, Let’s gather your business info, in the Business Income and Expenses section, click the Start/Update button. 
  4. Continue to the Here's the business info we have so far screen.  Click on the Edit box next to the business. 
  5. On the Your [business type] Business screen, in the Business Expenses section, click the Start/Update box next to Other Common Business Expenses
  6. Click Start/Update box next to Other Miscellaneous Expenses.
  7. Enter the information on the next screen.

 

 

KathrynG3
Level 14
January 28, 2020

Personal bad debt is not tax deductible. 

 

Please click on the link below to further explain what changed with the new tax law, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 affecting years 2018-2025.

"The deduction for personal casualty or theft losses has been repealed in tax years 2018–2025, unless the loss occurred in a federally-declared disaster area.

Previously, uninsured losses exceeding $100 due to fire, theft, or natural disaster could be deducted if the total loss amount exceeded 10% of the AGI, regardless of location."

 

IRS Tax Topic 453 defines business bad debt and nonbusiness bad debt. Nonbusiness bad debt is not the same as personal bad debt from an unpaid credit card, for example.