Portable solar panels battery backup business expense
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What you are trying to justify deducting has been incredibly creative lately, John.
I saw a story with a guy in a TESLA in yellowstone with STARLINK setup on his hood. At first the guy was thinking the driver might have run out of power, but then realized it was Starlink setup. Maybe he was a shopper who had to fill out reports by a certain time. :-)
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]
It is a justifiable expense for your business. I use a solar power charger for my cell phone when on the road. I've lost power in my area and had to use battery backup to file reports. If your computer is a write off, so is the power backup.
It is but depending on the cost i would include in office expense or maintenance. If you need to include on a depreciation schedule use Computer Peripherals.
Have you considered that if you lose power, you probably also lose internet connectivity? If you use your cell phone to do your reports, an external battery charger that will charge your cell phone many times will cost less than $50 on Amazon. I recommend the ones made by Anker. Get one with smart charging.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I have lost power and still had internet access with my laptop and cell phone. I just link my cell phone to my laptop or tablet. I also had lights. I have USB lights connected to a power pack.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2022 05:15AM by johnb974.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2022 05:15AM by johnb974.
You are in great shape. I recommend this portable charger. I have owned and used it for over 5 years, and it works flawlessly. IT is currently $59.99 on Amazon and will charge your phone 5 or 6 times. Anker PowerCore 20,100mAh Portable Charger Ultra High Capacity Power Bank with 4.8A Output and PowerIQ Technology, External Battery Pack for iPhone, iPad & Samsung Galaxy & More (Black)
There are many options for portable chargers on Amazon. They are easily deductible as business supplies. If you want to really, really charge and light up the world, buy a large uninterruptible power supply for a desktop computer, but it won't be portable. Still easily deductible as a business expense.
There are many options for portable chargers on Amazon. They are easily deductible as business supplies. If you want to really, really charge and light up the world, buy a large uninterruptible power supply for a desktop computer, but it won't be portable. Still easily deductible as a business expense.
@johnb974 wrote:
I have lost power and still had internet access with my laptop and cell phone. I just link my cell phone to my laptop or tablet. I also had lights. I have USB lights connected to a power pack.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
I have a 300w Jackery battery power supply, 2 portable solar panels and a couple of USB chargers. I can get a bigger power supply if I can use it as a write off.
A 300 watt Jackery is more than enough to power your computer and phone. I use one for camping. Why would you need bigger to justify for MS?
The issue is that you appear to want us to provide you with a justification to use in case the IRS audits you. Since you already have a 300-watt Jackery, I don't think you are going to get much sympathy here unless you can tell us what the 300-watt Jackery is inadequate for your needs. During blizzards and hurricanes when I lost power for days, most of the stores that were mystery shopped were closed as were the roads. The Jackery 300-watt will charge a typical smartphone 31 times, or a typical laptop 2.5 times. What type of catastrophe are you preparing for?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2022 03:45PM by myst4au.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/28/2022 03:45PM by myst4au.
I'm giving ideas to others for write offs. I don't need anyone's approval. I'm helping others to provide for their business incase of emergencies.
You said the following:
"I have a 300w Jackery battery power supply, 2 portable solar panels and a couple of USB chargers. I can get a bigger power supply if I can use it as a write-off."
It certainly appears to me that you want to buy a bigger power supply, but only if you can justify it as a write-off.
You have my permission to buy it. In fact, you have my permission to buy a whole-house Generac backup generator. Please note that the IRS is unlikely to care that I approved your purchase.
"I have a 300w Jackery battery power supply, 2 portable solar panels and a couple of USB chargers. I can get a bigger power supply if I can use it as a write-off."
It certainly appears to me that you want to buy a bigger power supply, but only if you can justify it as a write-off.
You have my permission to buy it. In fact, you have my permission to buy a whole-house Generac backup generator. Please note that the IRS is unlikely to care that I approved your purchase.
@johnb974 wrote:
I'm giving ideas to others for write offs. I don't need anyone's approval. I'm helping others to provide for their business incase of emergencies.
Shopping Southeast Pennsylvania, Delaware above the canal, and South Jersey since 2008
when you're upgrading your system for business, it's a write off. Companies do it all the time.
Cool. I drive an electric car. So in order to do my MS business i will install solar panels on the roof to powee my battery, in case i'm in a rural location with no fast charger. Maybe tow an external battery too. Business expense!
Short answer, yes. But solar panels that are efficient and practical isn’t worth the price vs. just getting say a $50-70 ~26800 mAh power bank that can output as high as 80W, meaning most modern laptops, tablets and cellphones will more than suffice.
For reference, a typical cellphone holds ~3000-4000 mAh, so 6-8 FULL charges on a single battery pack.
[www.bestbuy.com]
For reference, a typical cellphone holds ~3000-4000 mAh, so 6-8 FULL charges on a single battery pack.
[www.bestbuy.com]
Shopping the Greater Denver Area, Colorado Springs and in-between in Colorado. 33 year old male and willing to travel!
I don't even understand this discussion. I have a thing-a-ma-jig that plugs my cell phone/tablet/laptop into my cigarette lighter and powers them adequately. As long as I don't run down my car battery (which would be pretty stupid to do), it works fine. Charges even when my car isn't running (which could, conceivably, run down my battery).
However, the question is the tax write-off.
Sure, write it off. Just be aware that if it's over the IRS limits to be expensed, you must take depreciation and all that jazz. Maybe pay use tax at your local level (a business tax imposed on "real property", which can include shelving units, walk in coolers, etc., etc., etc. ) That means if you pay $2,800 for it, you can't just deduct the entire amount as expense, just a portion as depreciation.
However, the question is the tax write-off.
Sure, write it off. Just be aware that if it's over the IRS limits to be expensed, you must take depreciation and all that jazz. Maybe pay use tax at your local level (a business tax imposed on "real property", which can include shelving units, walk in coolers, etc., etc., etc. ) That means if you pay $2,800 for it, you can't just deduct the entire amount as expense, just a portion as depreciation.
The solution to me being able to power a CD player in a remote location for hrs., was to purchase a marine battery, a battery caddy and an inverter, at a cost of $122. The only item new was the battery. As an experiment, I ran the player approx. 30 hrs. over 4 days before the inverter began signalling a need for charge.
I gave a simple suggestion to keep your business going if you have a blackout. A portable solar panel and battery backup. Which can be business expenses. But some people who know nothing about the tax code or your business throw out the word "Audit" to try and scare you from doing it, just because they personally don't like the idea. As a mystery shopper, running my own business, I also qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2022 06:17PM by johnb974.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/02/2022 06:17PM by johnb974.
Yes, young people qualify for EIC. However, at my age, I do not.
And we don't need to throw out the word "audit" to scare people. If your tax returns are honest, you never have to worry about an audit. You may be audited, but you'll pass with flying colors. I have been audited, and it's no joke. In my case, it only took about 10 minutes of showing my more-than-adequate bookkeeping records to convince the IRS auditor that my return was honest and that I had back up proof of every expense.
And we don't need to throw out the word "audit" to scare people. If your tax returns are honest, you never have to worry about an audit. You may be audited, but you'll pass with flying colors. I have been audited, and it's no joke. In my case, it only took about 10 minutes of showing my more-than-adequate bookkeeping records to convince the IRS auditor that my return was honest and that I had back up proof of every expense.
Starting last year, Seniors do qualify for the EIC. The law was changed.
Temporary change. And I actually did not qualify, as my business expenses offset my income.
And taxpayers who fail to properly expense business items, in order to increase their EIC, can be hit with heavy penalties for doing so. It's considered fraud, which means the IRS then may audit every return that taxpayer ever filed. And possibly future years, as well.
And taxpayers who fail to properly expense business items, in order to increase their EIC, can be hit with heavy penalties for doing so. It's considered fraud, which means the IRS then may audit every return that taxpayer ever filed. And possibly future years, as well.
When in doubt, consult a tax professional.
That's the ONLY tax advice one should trust on a forum not exactly full of tax experts.
That's the ONLY tax advice one should trust on a forum not exactly full of tax experts.
@ceasesmith wrote:
Temporary change. And I actually did not qualify, as my business expenses offset my income.
And taxpayers who fail to properly expense business items, in order to increase their EIC, can be hit with heavy penalties for doing so. It's considered fraud, which means the IRS then may audit every return that taxpayer ever filed. And possibly future years, as well.
stop with the scare tactics. You can qualify for the EITC if you make up to $27,380 without kids in your home or $57,414 if you're caring for children. Social Security and pensions do not count as income for the EIC.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2022 03:33PM by johnb974.
The truth is scare tactics?
If a person's earned income is zero, the EIC is also zero.
Edited to change a pronoun so that someone doesn't take it personally.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2022 03:40PM by ceasesmith.
If a person's earned income is zero, the EIC is also zero.
Edited to change a pronoun so that someone doesn't take it personally.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2022 03:40PM by ceasesmith.
Who's earned income is zero? I know mine isn't. Use Turbo Tax for business and you'll be fine.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2022 03:37PM by johnb974.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/09/2022 03:37PM by johnb974.
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