Anyone know if this applies to hardware too? Like if I buy different gaming consoles to test my games on different platforms?

As someone who works in game QA, I can confirm that research purchases are definitely legitimate business expenses when properly documented. The key thing that's helped me is creating a "research justification" document before making each purchase. I write a brief paragraph explaining what specific aspects I'm researching (gameplay mechanics, monetization strategies, accessibility features, etc.) and how it relates to current or upcoming projects. Then after playing, I add my findings and any actionable insights. This creates a clear paper trail showing business intent from purchase through completion. One tip that my CPA gave me: if you're buying games on sale or in bundles, allocate the cost based on which titles you actually use for research. Don't claim the full bundle price if you only researched 2 out of 10 games in it. The IRS appreciates that level of specificity and it shows you're being reasonable about the deductions. I typically claim about $1,200-1,500 annually this way and haven't had any issues. The documentation really makes all the difference!

I think mileage deductions are being overlooked here. If you're driving 2 hours to your property regularly, those miles are deductible business expenses if you're treating the STR as active income. At 65.5 cents per mile for 2023, that adds up fast!

The key factor for STR classification is the "average period of customer use" - if it's 7 days or less, the IRS generally treats it as a business activity rather than rental real estate. Given that you're actively managing bookings, communicating with guests, and handling maintenance while guests typically stay for weekends or short trips, you're definitely in active income territory. This means Schedule C filing and self-employment taxes on your net profit (around 15.3%). However, you'll also qualify for much better deductions - all those 2-hour drives are deductible mileage, plus your phone/internet costs, cleaning supplies, maintenance materials, and potentially a home office deduction for the space where you manage bookings. Don't forget about the Section 199A QBI deduction either - if your total taxable income is under the thresholds, you could deduct up to 20% of your STR business income, which helps offset those self-employment taxes significantly.

Just a warning - I claimed a similar improvement for my home business space and got audited. Make sure you have REALLY good documentation showing your garage is 100% business use. The IRS was super picky about whether there was ANY personal use of that space.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the timing of when you make this improvement. If you're planning to do this work early in 2025, you might want to consider whether it makes sense to accelerate it into 2024 depending on your current year income situation. Also, since you're dealing with water damage and erosion, make sure to document the current damage with photos and get it assessed before you build the wall. This helps establish that you're making a necessary protective improvement rather than an optional enhancement. The IRS likes to see clear evidence that structural improvements were driven by genuine business necessity rather than personal preference. Have you considered getting multiple contractor quotes? Sometimes having 2-3 professional assessments that all identify the same erosion threat can strengthen your documentation for the business purpose of this expense.

One thing nobody's mentioned yet is that the 50% limit on meals still applies during the business portion of your trip. So even for the days that are 100% business, you can only deduct 50% of your meal expenses (unless you're in one of the special situations where 100% is allowed). Also, keep in mind that if your employer reimburses you for any expenses, you can't also deduct those same expenses on your personal return. That would be double-dipping.

Don't forget about local transportation costs! If you rent a car for both the business and personal parts of the trip, you need to allocate those costs too. Only the days you used the car for business are deductible. Same goes for taxis/Ubers during your trip - only the ones related to business activities count. Like getting from your hotel to the conference venue is deductible, but taking an Uber to go sightseeing isn't.

The $43,751.52 calculation seems off. I make exactly $60k in Oregon and my actual take-home after all taxes is $44,868. BUT that doesn't include my health insurance ($189/mo), 401k (5%), and HSA contribution. With those, my actual paycheck comes to $3,293/month. Pro tip: Ask for the benefits package details BEFORE accepting the offer. My salary seemed great until I realized the health insurance was way more expensive than my last job, which effectively made it a pay cut despite the higher number.

Your calculation does seem a bit low for $60k in Michigan. Based on the breakdown others have provided, you should be looking at closer to $47,000-$48,000 in take-home pay before any benefits deductions. Here's what might be throwing off your calculation: many online calculators don't properly account for the standard deduction ($13,850 for single filers in 2024), which significantly reduces your taxable income. They also sometimes include estimated state disability or other local taxes that may not apply to your situation. My recommendation would be to use the IRS withholding calculator on their official website (irs.gov) as your baseline, then cross-reference with your state's tax calculator. Once you get the job, your first few paystubs will tell you exactly where you stand, and you can always adjust your W-4 if needed. Also keep in mind that $60k gross with typical benefits (health insurance, 401k contribution, etc.) will bring your actual take-home down further than just the tax calculation alone.