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Level 2
November 22, 2020
Question

material expense or inventory

  • November 22, 2020
  • 5 replies
  • 16 views

I run a window tint and vinyl wrap shop. & we keep bulk rolls of tint film and vinyl . of the most common items we use in stock, so my question is does this fall under inventory or can we put the supplies purchase as a business expense for the year purchased and used. 

    5 replies

    November 22, 2020

    if you have inventoried the items in prior years you must continue that method unless you file for a change in accounting methods using form 3115.  this is not easy to complete, so you probably should consult a pro.  if you just started the business, 

    FROM IRS PUB 334

    Keeping inventories. When the production, purchase,
    or sale of merchandise is an income-producing factor in
    your business, you generally must take inventories into
    account at the beginning and the end of your tax year, unless you are a small business taxpayer. If you must account for an inventory, you generally must use an accrual
    method of accounting for your purchases and sales.

    Inventories
    Generally, if you produce, purchase, or sell merchandise
    in your business, you must keep an inventory and use an
    accrual method for purchases and sales of merchandise.

    Exception for small business taxpayers. If you are a
    small business taxpayer, you can choose not to keep an
    inventory, but you must still use a method of accounting
    for inventory that clearly reflects income. If you choose not
    to keep an inventory, you won’t be treated as failing to
    clearly reflect income if your method of accounting for inventory treats inventory as non-incidental material or supplies, or conforms to your financial accounting treatment
    of inventories. If, however, you choose to keep an inventory, you generally must use an accrual method of accounting and value the inventory each year to determine
    your cost of goods sold in Part III of Schedule C.
    Small business taxpayer. You qualify as a small
    business taxpayer if you (a) have average annual gross
    receipts of $26 million or less for the 3 prior tax years, and
    (b) are not a tax shelter (as defined in section 448(d)(3)). If
    your business has not been in existence for all of the
    3-tax-year period used in figuring average gross receipts,
    base your average on the period it has existed, and if your
    business has a predecessor entity, include the gross receipts of the predecessor entity from the 3-tax-year period
    when figuring average gross receipts. If your business (or
    predecessor entity) had short tax years for any of the
    3-tax-year period, annualize your business’ gross receipts
    for the short tax years that are part of the 3-tax-year period. See Pub. 538 for more information.
    Treating inventory as non-incidental material or
    supplies. If you account for inventories as materials and
    supplies that are not incidental, you deduct the amounts
    paid to acquire or produce the inventoriable items treated
    as materials and supplies in the year in which they are first
    used or consumed in your operations.

     

     

    josuez32Author
    Level 2
    November 22, 2020

    no i am new , and a small business . and have not done it in any way yet . im just trying to get everything sorted the right way. could you provide an example of what it means for not treating it as inventory but as non-incidental material and supplies. thanks!

    Critter-3
    Level 15
    November 22, 2020

    I just did ... you don't manufacture it  and you don't sell it retail for a profit so it is an expense of a consumable product and thus not inventory.

     

    Critter-3
    Level 15
    November 22, 2020

    You have a service business and the bulk rolls are consumable supplies  not inventory unless you also sell the supplies for a profit which I doubt you do.  Only items purchased or manufactured for sale/resell are inventory.