- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
I have a client that trains peoples horses and wrote a book on how to train horses and regularly post training videos. Can she write off the horses food and health insurance that she uses to demonstrate the training with?
Best Answer Click here
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Are you asking if the horse food for the client's horses can be written off? Sure, why not if it is part of the business expense.
Can you clarify what this means health insurance that she uses to demonstrate the training with?
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Health insurance for the horse.
What category should I list the expenses under?
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
There is a line for insurance on the Schedule C - don't enter into the health insurance area, that's meant for taxpayer health insurance. As for the food, you'll need to enter a description and $ in the Other Expenses.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Normally, people pay to have a horse boarded and trained, and that fee includes food. Then, the facility has animal feed expense. Vet bills and shoeing are passed along and often with markup. The insurance paid for would be general insurance; the owners would have horses insured.
Are you sure this person even understands their own business model?
Don't yell at us; we're volunteers
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
I think the OP is referring to the horse that person uses to make her training videos. Not the horses she boards or trains. She owns that one horse.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
No their business is still in its infancy stage.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Yes I am referring to the horse she owns.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
The horse is livestock as an Asset. It isn't an Expense.
Don't yell at us; we're volunteers
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
And you can deduct insurance that covers your assets. She was asking about feed and insurance for the "asset"
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Does she keep a log of business furlongs vs. personal furlongs?
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Or if it's a gaurd horse it might be hours on duty vs. hours off duty.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
I don’t understand your question.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Are you asking if she keeps track of personal use versus business use?
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
I think Bob was trying to be funny asking if she's tracking mileage.
BTW - I thought the horse expenses were for client's horses while there for training not a personal horse being used for business.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
Yes. And maybe for some history of this horse. It's been in the family for a decade, she rides it every day and does videos every other Thursday? When others see "horse," IRS sees "hobby."
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
The client started off with her horses as a hobby but as she furthered her knowledge in natural horsemanship she decided to start a business as a trainer and decided to write a book. She also does a little boarding. Last year was her first year in business and she grossed $14,000 this year $44,000. The business is growing. With that said the horse she is using for business started as a personal horse.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
I am picturing her business name on a magnetic sign for the saddle, so that she can claim 100% business use like the people who put magnetic signs on their cars. Do they make saddles that attract magnets? At some point, it may be reasonable to argue that there is a business purpose for her to have her own horse. The facts and circumstances so far haven’t convinced me, but you’re the one signing the return.
- Mark as New
- Bookmark
- Subscribe
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
If I was preparing the return - I'd allow feed and expenses for the horses she is training and boarding.
For her own horse, I'd want to know how much time the horse is participating in business activities before I'd start deducting feed and expenses. I would not treat the horse as a business asset for depreciation purposes.