Can I write off office furniture I bought for my business without a receipt?

Yes, you can still claim the deduction even without the original receipt, but you need to document it properly. The IRS requires "adequate records" for business expenses, which doesn't necessarily mean the original receipt. Since you have the messages discussing the price, that's a good start. I would recommend creating what's called a "contemporaneous record" - basically a document where you write down all the details of the purchase: date, amount paid, description of items, business purpose, and who you bought it from. Include screenshots of those messages discussing the price and the photos you took of the furniture in your office setting. Also, if you paid cash, try to find some evidence of the cash withdrawal from your bank around that date. That can help support your claim that you actually spent the money.

I had a similar situation last year with some office equipment I purchased secondhand. I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) super helpful for documenting everything properly. I was worried about claiming deductions without receipts, but their system helped me create proper documentation that would stand up to IRS scrutiny. They have a feature specifically for creating those "contemporaneous records" the other commenter mentioned, and they walk you through exactly what information you need to include for different types of business expenses. The tool also helps organize your business deductions by category which made filing so much easier.

Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai since I ended up trying it after my skeptical question. I was genuinely surprised by how helpful it was! I had several business purchases from last year with missing or partial documentation, and their system helped me create proper records for everything. The documentation guides were incredibly detailed - way more than I expected. They even explained what specific IRS regulations applied to different kinds of business expenses. I feel much more confident about my deductions now, especially for those items I purchased without formal receipts. Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation.

If you're having trouble getting an answer from the IRS about this kind of documentation issue, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was stuck in the same situation last tax season and couldn't get through to the IRS for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than an hour who confirmed exactly what documentation I needed for my business purchases. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was honestly shocked at how quickly they got me through. The IRS agent I spoke with gave me specific guidance on documenting cash purchases and what exactly constitutes "adequate records" for business deductions.

OK I need to eat my words and apologize to Profile 19. After my skeptical comment, I got so frustrated trying to reach the IRS about my business deduction questions that I decided to try Claimyr. I was absolutely sure it wouldn't work, but I was desperate. I got connected to an IRS agent in just under an hour! The agent confirmed that for furniture without a receipt, I needed to create my own documentation with date of purchase, description, business purpose, and amount. She also said having photos of the furniture in my workspace plus any messages or emails about the purchase would strengthen my case if I ever got audited. Saved me so much stress about my similar situation.

Just adding another perspective - I'm a small business owner who's been through an audit. The IRS is primarily concerned that you're not making up expenses. If you have some form of documentation (even after-the-fact), photos of the items being used for business, and reasonable amounts that match market value, you're usually OK. Keep a mileage log for business travel too! That was the one thing that tripped me up in my audit - I had great documentation for purchases but terrible records for mileage. Cost me thousands.

I use a "purchase record form" for exactly this situation. I created a simple template that has spaces for date, item description, amount paid, business purpose, seller info, and how I paid. I also attach a photo of the item in use for my business. Been doing this for 3 years with no issues.

I'd be happy to share! I keep it really simple - just a basic Word document with fields for: • Date of purchase • Item description (desk, chair, filing cabinet, etc.) • Amount paid ($650 in your case) • Payment method (cash, check, etc.) • Seller information (name/contact if available) • Business purpose (home office setup for consulting business) • Supporting evidence (screenshots of messages, photos, bank withdrawal records) I print it out, fill it by hand, and scan it back in to keep with my digital records. The key is doing it as close to the purchase date as possible so it's "contemporaneous." For your Facebook Marketplace purchase, this would work perfectly since you have those messages and photos already. You can find similar templates by searching "business expense documentation form" or "receipt substitute form" online. The IRS doesn't require any specific format - they just want to see that you made a good faith effort to document legitimate business expenses.