Can i write off a car alarm for a business vehicle

[p3flyguy2]

Purchased a car for use exclusively in business (shced C) and to protect my tools carried in the vehicle, I had dark tint and a car alarm installed.  Can I write off the tint and alarm?

[PeterM · Accepted solution]

You can write those expenses off, but this would preclude you from claiming any mileage expense. The IRS allows you to claim the greater of either your actual expenses for the vehicle, or the standard mileage rate. The rate in 2016 was $.54...so if you drove 10,000 business miles your deduction using the standard mileage rate would be $5,400. If your actual expenses (including those you mentioned) are less than the amount produced by the standard mileage rate, you'd want to go with the standard mileage rate. Please see the following IRS publication for more information:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p463.pdf