How to properly document Section 280A(g)/14 day rent rule for business meetings in my home?

The 14-day rule under Section 280A(g) is definitely useful, but documentation is key to making it work smoothly in case of an audit. Here's what I recommend for proper documentation: 1) Create a formal rental agreement between yourself and your business that specifies the daily rental rate (make sure it's reasonable for your area). 2) For each meeting, document: date, duration, business purpose, attendees, and topics discussed. Take photos of the meeting setup as additional evidence. 3) Keep separate documentation based on meeting type. For board meetings: include copies of the agenda, minutes, and any resolutions passed. For planning meetings: document the goals, outcomes, and action items created. 4) Your business should pay you directly (not through payroll) and the payment should be clearly marked as "home rental for business meeting." 5) Track related expenses separately from your normal home expenses. It's worth noting that having an accountant who understands and supports legitimate tax strategies is important. Someone who specializes in small business ownership might be a better fit.

I struggled with this same issue last year until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which seriously helped me figure out the documentation requirements for Section 280A(g). I was worried about getting the rental rate right and having proper documentation for different types of meetings. The tool analyzed all my business documents and actually helped me create templates for board meetings, planning sessions, and team workshops. It also gave me specific guidance on how to structure everything to maximize the 14-day rule legally. The best part was it helped me determine a fair market rental rate based on my location that wouldn't trigger audit concerns. I actually ended up switching accountants too after getting more confident in what I was legally entitled to. My new CPA was impressed with how thoroughly I'd documented everything!

I was totally skeptical about online tax tools like taxr.ai but decided to try it after seeing the recommendation here. I was pleasantly surprised! It actually provided really specific templates for documenting Section 280A(g) meetings - exactly what I needed. The rental agreement template it generated looked professional and covered all the bases. I also really liked how it helped me establish a defensible rental rate with market comparisons from my actual zip code. The meeting documentation templates were thorough enough to satisfy even my detail-oriented nature. My business has now successfully used the 14-day rule for two quarters, and I feel completely confident in our documentation. I'm actually saving the templates for next year too since they worked so well. Definitely worth checking out if you're struggling with this specific tax issue.

If you're having trouble with your CPA on this issue, you should know that reaching the IRS directly for clarification is actually possible with Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last year with Section 280A(g) documentation questions my accountant couldn't answer, and after weeks of calling the IRS and getting nowhere, I was at my wit's end. Claimyr got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent walked me through exactly what documentation they expect to see for home rental to my business and confirmed that my approach was compliant. It saved me so much stress knowing I had direct confirmation from the IRS about my documentation methods rather than just guessing or relying on internet advice.

I'm eating crow right now. After posting that skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr anyway because I was desperate for answers about Section 280A(g) documentation. Not only did it actually work, but I got through to an IRS representative in about 20 minutes when I'd been trying unsuccessfully for weeks. The agent confirmed exactly what documentation they look for in case of an audit regarding the 14-day rule. She explained that they want to see a formal rental agreement, payment records separate from regular payroll, meeting documentation with business purpose clearly stated, and evidence that the rental rate is reasonable for comparable spaces in my area. This was WAY more specific guidance than my CPA ever provided. Definitely switching accountants now and implementing proper documentation based on what I learned directly from the source!

I've been using the 14-day rule for three years now. Here's what's worked for me: I created a simple rental agreement template that I modify for each meeting. I take pictures of the setup, keep an agenda and minutes, and make sure to document decisions made. I maintain a spreadsheet tracking all rental days with dates, purposes, and attendees to ensure I never exceed 14 days. For determining reasonable rates, I called three hotels in my area to get quotes for their conference rooms and used the average. I keep these quotes with my tax documentation. Definitely find a CPA who understands small business strategies. Mine has saved me thousands by properly implementing legitimate tax strategies like this one.

Has anyone considered the potential audit risk with this strategy? I'm interested in using the 14-day rule but worried about increased scrutiny.

This is exactly the kind of documentation challenge I faced when I first started implementing the 14-day rule! One thing that really helped me was creating a standardized checklist for each meeting type to ensure I never missed any required documentation. For board meetings, I always include: formal agenda, attendee list with titles, meeting minutes with specific business decisions, photos of the meeting setup, and copies of any documents reviewed or approved. For strategic planning sessions, I document: specific business objectives discussed, market analysis or financial data reviewed, strategic decisions made, timeline commitments, and follow-up action items with assigned owners. For training sessions, I track: learning objectives, curriculum or materials used, attendee participation records, skills assessments or certifications earned, and how the training relates to business operations. I also keep a master calendar showing all 14 days used throughout the year with brief descriptions to ensure I never accidentally exceed the limit. The IRS wants to see that these are legitimate business meetings, not just casual get-togethers, so the more specific your documentation, the better. One last tip: I always have my business write me a check specifically marked "home rental - business meeting [date]" rather than lumping it in with other payments. This creates a clear paper trail that's easy to follow during any review.