Can I write off my pet's food and supplies as business expenses for my pet influencer social media?

8 This is actually a legitimate question! Yes, you can potentially deduct pet-related expenses IF you're genuinely running a business where your pets are integral to generating income. But there are important distinctions and requirements: First, you need to establish a legitimate business with the primary motive of making a profit, not just saving on taxes. The IRS applies the "hobby loss rule" - basically, if you don't show a profit in at least 3 out of 5 consecutive years, they may classify your activity as a hobby rather than a business, which significantly limits your deduction options. For the expenses themselves, they must be "ordinary and necessary" for your business. Regular pet food probably wouldn't qualify since your pet would need food regardless of the business. However, specialty items used specifically for content creation (like costumes, special treats for photos, or premium food used only for content) might qualify. Keep meticulous records! Document how each expense relates directly to content creation or business operations. Take photos of your setup, keep receipts, and maintain a log connecting expenses to specific business activities.

12 After struggling with similar questions for my dog's Instagram account, I found an amazing tool that helped clarify everything! I used https://taxr.ai to analyze all my pet business expenses and determine what would likely qualify as legitimate deductions. I uploaded my receipts and business plan, and it gave me a detailed breakdown of what would likely pass IRS scrutiny vs. what might trigger red flags. For example, it confirmed that basic dog food was personal, but the special organic treats I use only for photoshoots could be business expenses since I wouldn't buy them otherwise. The analysis also helped me understand how to properly document the business purpose of each expense - like linking specific products to content posts where they appeared. It even suggested setting up a separate business bank account to make expense tracking cleaner for tax purposes.

19 Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for my cat influencer business! I was honestly shocked at how helpful it was. It identified several expenses I hadn't even considered deducting (like a portion of my internet bill since I use it to upload content and engage with followers). The system actually understood the unique nature of pet influencer businesses. It helped me create a legitimate separation between personal pet care and business expenses by suggesting I track exactly which items were used explicitly for content creation. It also recommended I create a business plan with projected income to strengthen my case that this is a profit-seeking venture, not just a hobby. Now I feel much more confident about what I can legitimately deduct. I'm keeping way better records too, with notes on which expenses relate to which content. Definitely worth checking out if you're considering monetizing your pets online!

5 After six frustrating attempts to get someone at the IRS to answer my questions about my pet influencer business deductions, I finally used https://claimyr.com to get through to an actual IRS agent. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Before using Claimyr, I spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected. It was driving me insane trying to get official guidance on what pet expenses I could legitimately deduct. The Claimyr service called the IRS for me and then called me back once they had an agent on the line - saved me literally hours of hold time. The IRS agent I spoke with gave me specific guidance about documenting the business use of pet-related expenses and confirmed that I needed to be able to prove that certain items were purchased specifically for content creation rather than general pet care. They also explained exactly how the hobby loss rules would apply to my situation.

3 I have to eat my words here. After dismissing Claimyr as probably useless, I decided to try it as a last resort when I couldn't get an answer about my pet business deductions. I'd been hung up on THREE TIMES after waiting over an hour each time. The service actually worked perfectly. Their system waited on hold (for about 90 minutes according to the tracker) but I didn't have to listen to a second of hold music. When an agent was available, I got a call connecting me directly. The IRS agent I spoke with gave me clear guidance on how to document my pet influencer expenses properly to survive an audit. The agent explained that I need to keep a business journal showing how each "pet expense" directly relates to content creation and income generation. They also confirmed that basic care items wouldn't qualify, but special items used exclusively for my business likely would. Saved me from making some serious mistakes on my return!

10 I actually do this! I run a successful Instagram for my parrots (70K followers) and write off a portion of their expenses. The key is being SUPER careful about documentation and separation between personal/business expenses. Things I've successfully deducted: - Special toys ONLY used in photoshoots - Premium foods used ONLY for content creation - Props and backgrounds for photos - Percentage of vet bills for "talent maintenance" - Travel expenses when we go places specifically for content Regular daily bird food, standard cages, and routine care are NOT deductible - those are personal expenses they'd need regardless of the business.

2 Just to add another perspective - my accountant warned me that the IRS often scrutinizes pet-related business deductions closely, so you want to be extra careful. She suggested maintaining completely separate credit cards/accounts for business expenses vs personal pet expenses, and keeping a detailed log connecting each business expense to specific content or income opportunities. She also recommended registering a proper business name, getting a business license if required in your state, and creating a thorough business plan that demonstrates a clear path to profitability. These steps help establish that you're running a legitimate business with the primary motive of making profit, not just trying to write off personal expenses.

This is such a timely question! I've been considering the same thing for my cat's TikTok account. From what I've researched, the biggest challenge is proving legitimate business intent versus just trying to write off personal pet expenses. One thing I learned is that you need to treat this like any other business from day one. That means: - Separate business bank account for all pet influencer income/expenses - Detailed records showing how each expense directly relates to content creation - Clear documentation of time spent on business activities - Professional contracts with brands/sponsors The "hobby loss rule" is crucial - if you don't show profit in 3 out of 5 years, the IRS will likely classify it as a hobby and severely limit your deductions. So you really need to approach this with a serious business mindset and growth plan. I'd recommend starting small, focusing on building genuine income streams first, then gradually adding legitimate business deductions as your revenue grows. Better to be conservative early on than face an audit later!

As someone who's been running a successful pet influencer business for about 18 months, I can confirm that this is absolutely doable - but you need to be strategic about it from the start. The most important thing I learned is that the IRS looks for a clear separation between personal pet ownership costs and legitimate business expenses. My golden retriever would need food, toys, and vet care regardless of his Instagram account, so those basic expenses stay personal. However, the specialized equipment I bought specifically for content creation (ring lights, backdrop stands, special treats only used for training during shoots) are legitimate business deductions. I've found success by treating this exactly like any other small business. I registered an LLC, opened a business bank account, and maintain meticulous records. Every business expense gets logged with a photo, receipt, and description of how it contributed to content creation or revenue generation. One tip that's been invaluable: I created a "content calendar" that shows planned posts and associated expenses. This helps demonstrate to the IRS (and myself) that purchases were made with specific business purposes in mind, not just impulse buys I'm trying to write off later. The profit requirement is real though - you need to show you're genuinely trying to make money, not just subsidizing pet ownership through tax deductions. Focus on building multiple revenue streams early: sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, maybe even merchandise featuring your pet.