Tax deductions for a new business owner - what everyday expenses can I claim?

This is actually super helpful. What about if I'm traveling for business? Can meals while I'm on the road be deducted? And what about my home office - I've heard there are deductions for that too?

Business travel meals are typically 50% deductible, though the temporary 100% deduction for restaurant meals may apply for 2025 if they meet the requirements. Keep detailed records of who was present, the business purpose, and save all receipts. For a home office deduction, you need a space used exclusively and regularly for business. You can deduct using either the simplified method ($5 per square foot up to 300 sq ft) or the regular method (calculating actual expenses like mortgage interest, utilities, etc.). The space must be your principal place of business or regularly used to meet clients - occasional work at your dining table doesn't qualify.

Does it actually tell you specifically what YOU can deduct or is it just general advice? Like will it know the difference between my photography business vs someone else's consulting business?

I'm skeptical about these AI tax tools. How does it compare to just asking my accountant? Does it really understand all the nuances of tax law or does it give generic advice you could find on Google?

It provides personalized recommendations based on your specific business type and situation, not just generic advice. For example, it would recognize different deduction opportunities for a photography business (equipment, studio space, travel to shoots) versus a consulting business (professional development, home office, client entertainment). The AI analyzes your actual expenses and business context against current tax laws, which is different from Google searches. While it doesn't replace an accountant for complex situations, it's extremely helpful for day-to-day decisions about what's deductible and helps you prepare better documentation for your tax professional while potentially saving on billable hours.

Wait I don't understand - how does this actually work? The IRS phone system is notorious for being impossible. Does this somehow bypass the queue or something?

This sounds like BS honestly. Everyone knows the IRS phone lines are basically impossible to get through. You're telling me this service somehow magically gets you to the front of the line? How is that even possible?

It doesn't bypass the queue - Claimyr uses automated technology to wait on hold for you. When you sign up, their system calls the IRS and navigates the phone tree, then waits in the queue. Once a human IRS agent picks up, you get a call back so you can talk directly with them. You don't have to sit listening to hold music for hours. It's not magic, just smart automation. The IRS doesn't give them special access - they're just handling the frustrating waiting part for you. I was skeptical too until I tried it and had an actual IRS person call me back while I was making dinner instead of wasting my whole afternoon on hold.

Do you need to track every single trip? Like what if I sometimes stop at the office supply store on my way home from something else? That seems like a lot of record keeping.

You should track every business trip to maximize your deduction and protect yourself in case of an audit. For mixed-purpose trips like stopping at an office supply store on your way home, you can deduct the extra mileage if the stop was necessary for business. Apps like MileIQ or Everlance make tracking much easier - they run in the background on your phone and let you swipe trips as business or personal. The few seconds it takes to log each trip can save you hundreds or thousands in deductions. I learned this the hard way after missing out on substantial deductions my first year because my records weren't detailed enough.

I've used it for about 2 years for my consulting business. The automatic transaction categorization and receipt scanning saves me tons of time. The mileage tracker alone is worth it. And it makes tax time way less stressful - it generates reports for Schedule C that you can just hand to your accountant or transfer to TurboTax. Definitely worth the cost for the headaches it prevents.