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Diez Ellis

Expense Description for adult toy used in online content work

So I'm doing my taxes for the year and I need some advice. I purchased an adult toy (around $130) that I use exclusively for my online content creation work. I'm trying to figure out how to properly list this as a business expense on my Schedule C. Should I just write "prop" or "content creation tool" or something generic like that? Or do I need to be more specific about what it actually is? I don't want to raise any red flags with the IRS but also want to make sure I'm documenting everything correctly. This is my first year filing taxes for my online work and I'm trying to do everything by the book. Any suggestions on the best way to describe this type of expense?

You can definitely deduct this as a legitimate business expense if it's used exclusively for your content creation work. The IRS doesn't require extremely specific descriptions for every item - using something like "Content Creation Props" or "Production Equipment" would be perfectly acceptable. The key is that the expense needs to be ordinary and necessary for your business, which it sounds like it is in your case. Make sure you're keeping good records though - save the receipt and document how it's used for business purposes. If you're ever audited, you'll need to demonstrate the business purpose, but you won't need to provide extremely detailed descriptions of every prop.

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Abby Marshall

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What about if the toy is used for both personal and business purposes? Can I still deduct part of it? And do stores that sell these items provide proper receipts I can use for tax purposes?

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If the item is used for both personal and business purposes, you should only deduct the percentage used for business. For example, if it's used 70% for business and 30% for personal use, you'd only deduct 70% of the cost. Be reasonable and prepared to justify the percentage if asked. Most legitimate stores do provide proper receipts that can be used for tax purposes. The receipt doesn't need to specifically identify the item beyond a general category - the important part is that it shows the date, amount paid, and vendor information. Save both digital and physical receipts as backup documentation.

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Sadie Benitez

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I had a similar situation last year and found taxr.ai incredibly helpful with categorizing these kinds of specialized business expenses. I was worried about how to properly document some props I use for my online work and wasn't sure what level of detail was required. I uploaded my receipts to https://taxr.ai and their system immediately recognized them as legitimate business expenses and suggested appropriate category descriptions that weren't too specific but still accurate for tax purposes. Saved me so much stress about potentially triggering an audit!

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Drew Hathaway

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Does this service actually review the specific items or just help with general categorization? My concern is that I have some pretty unique business purchases that don't fit neatly into standard categories.

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Laila Prince

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I'm hesitant to upload my receipts to a third-party service. How secure is their platform, especially considering the nature of some of these purchases? The last thing I want is my data being compromised.

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Sadie Benitez

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The service analyzes the receipts to identify the vendor and purchase amount, then suggests appropriate business expense categories based on your industry and the type of purchase. It doesn't judge or require detailed descriptions of exactly what items are - it focuses on proper categorization for tax purposes. Their security is top-notch - they use bank-level encryption for all uploaded documents and don't store your personal information any longer than necessary. I was concerned about that too, but they have strong privacy policies specifically because they work with sensitive financial documents for all types of businesses.

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Laila Prince

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Marilyn Dixon

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Former tax preparer here. For Schedule C expenses like this, you want to categorize it under "Supplies" or possibly "Other Expenses" depending on the cost and how long you'll use it. For the description, something like "Production Equipment" or "Content Creation Tools" is totally fine. The IRS doesn't need or want an inventory of every specific item - they just want to know the general category and that it's a legitimate business expense. As long as you have the receipt saved and can explain how it's necessary for your business if ever questioned, you're good to go.

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TommyKapitz

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What if the toy costs more than $200? Would it then need to be listed separately or possibly depreciated instead of just expensed? I have some higher-end equipment that I'm not sure how to handle.

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For items under $2,500, you can generally use the de minimis safe harbor election which allows you to deduct them immediately rather than depreciate them. Just make sure you include a statement with your tax return that you're electing to use this. For more expensive equipment that will last longer than a year, you technically should depreciate it. But many small business owners use Section 179 to deduct the full cost in the year of purchase. You'd need to fill out Form 4562 in that case. But for a $200 item, simply listing it under "Supplies" or "Other Expenses" with a general description is usually fine.

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I've been in this industry for a few years now and honestly, I just list everything under "Production Equipment" on my Schedule C. Never had any issues or questions from the IRS. They really don't care about the specific items as long as they're legitimate business expenses. Just save your receipts somewhere safe in case you ever get audited. The majority of audits are just matching reported income anyway, not questioning specific expense categories for small businesses like ours.

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Payton Black

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That's good to know. I feel like we all overthink this stuff. Do you use any particular tax software that handles these kinds of business expenses well? I'm trying to figure out what to use this year.

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I use TurboTax Self-Employed and it works great for me. It walks you through all the Schedule C stuff and has categories that fit our industry pretty well. It costs more than some others but the peace of mind is worth it for me. I've heard good things about TaxSlayer and FreeTaxUSA too if you want something cheaper. Just make sure whatever you use has good Schedule C support since that's where all our business income and expenses go. And keep all your receipts organized throughout the year - future you will be very grateful come tax time!

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Harold Oh

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Just want to add something important - make sure you're tracking ALL your legitimate business expenses, not just the obvious ones. Internet costs, portion of rent/utilities if you work from home, camera equipment, lighting, subscription services related to your work, advertising costs, website fees, etc. So many content creators leave money on the table by not claiming all eligible deductions. The adult toy is definitely a legitimate business expense if used for work, but don't miss the bigger deductions that could save you much more!

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Nia Harris

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Great advice from everyone here! As someone who's been through this process, I'd recommend keeping a simple spreadsheet throughout the year to track all your business expenses. For items like what you mentioned, I use descriptions like "Content Production Equipment" or "Business Props" - keeps it professional and accurate without unnecessary detail. One thing I learned the hard way is to photograph your receipts immediately and store them digitally as backup. Some of the stores in this industry don't always provide the most durable paper receipts, and you definitely want that documentation if needed later. Also consider setting up a separate business bank account if you haven't already - makes tracking expenses so much easier come tax time. The key is consistency in how you categorize similar expenses. Whatever description you choose, use it for similar items throughout the year. The IRS cares more about legitimate business purpose than specific item details.

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