materials or tools? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Thewallfixer · 02-19-2007, 06:51 PM

I have recently entered the wonderful world of doing my own taxes on my small painting business that I just opened. So I am wondering about what count's as a tool and what is a material?

For instance I repair some plaster, obviously I can't write off the cost of the plaster, but can I write off a sanding block that I use? Since it only lasts until I sand this wall, is that a tool? or a material?

Or how about paint rags? or Tray liners? Even things like bags for a shop vac?

There are some other's that I am blanking on, but I was wondering is there a standard out there that I need to stick to?

Brushslingers · 02-19-2007, 08:00 PM

Sundries need to be kept track of, materials are your loss and need to be kept track of... though i'm not a tax expert my gal tells me I can write of part of my whites (uniforms), sundries, enter materials as job costs (loss) and depreciate all my equipment each year... even if it's paid for... not to mention lights, insurance, trucks.......

My advice? Get a tax gal.

**slickshift** · 02-19-2007, 08:57 PM

Those are sundries or consumables
Not tools

Hire a tax pro
I know, I know, "I can't afford one"
Wrong
You can't afford not to have one

MakDeco · 02-19-2007, 09:14 PM

Don't be afraid of the tax man, his bark is bigger than his bite.

Thewallfixer · 02-20-2007, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickshift

Those are sundries or consumables
Not tools

Hire a tax pro
I know, I know, "I can't afford one"
Wrong
You can't afford not to have one

If there is anyone who is ripe for running his business using quickbooks it's me. I have no employees. All I do is repair plaster and paint. I own most the tools I need and the only thing I buy is materials for working on peoples house. I thought I was computer savvy and fairly intelligent, but there are some things I need to work through.

Like paying taxes quaterly. anywebsites out there you would recommend? The IRS website explains stuff okay, but thats about it.

I may get a tax gal, but I am going to give this a try.

Brian · 02-20-2007, 07:20 PM

There are a couple of ways to account for such things. You can depreciate the expense, or simply expense it. Depreciation is a total pain, and really isn't reasonable for small hand tools. My advice (and my CPA's) is to expense it at purchase.

I agree with the others who suggest getting a tax expert. It's worth the money and can save you a ton of time. (And time is money.)

Brian Phillips

Danahy · 02-21-2007, 12:35 AM

Around here there are assets that depreciate, which includes tools over ($100 - $200), everything else gets used up immediately as materials, or direct expense to the job...

May get alittle funny, should you decide to pre-purchase a ton of materials, and have to carry that as inventory.... blah.... Unless you're saving a significant amount, I wouldn't bother with that...

**slickshift** · 02-21-2007, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thewallfixer

If there is anyone who is ripe for running his business using quickbooks it's me...I am going to give this a try.

I agree
However, you'll still want a pro to do the taxes
And you'll need a pro to set up QB (unless you are reasonably skilled with accounting and/or accounting software programs)