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Can we deduct veterinary expenses for our own dogs as they need to be healthy in order to run our business?

I'm going through and trying to write off all I legally can. I've got the home office deduction, 25% of my water bill for extra laundry and lawn watering, 30% of treats/food/toys, 25% of phone/internet used for bookings and updates, 50% of gardening work, 50% of flea/tick/heartworm medication, 100% of pet cleaning products & poop bags, a one-time carpet/hardwood floor cleaning for pet stains from customers' dogs (50%) & 33% of our house cleaner costs since most time is spent on dog-related cleaning.

Does that sound legitimate? In addition, I'm wondering if it's legal to write off a percentage (say 33%) of veterinary costs in order to have healthy dogs when people leave their pups with us, no one wants their pet to stay with a sick dog.

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I would definitely verify any expenses with a professional, yet a percentage of your home is a legitimate write off. When I was boarding, my insurance covered a portion of the home. As far as Veterinary bills, that is most likely a personal expense.

Lea, Louise, Rick & Leila P.

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Karen R.

Very little of it sounds legit from my standpoint and I worked at a Big Eight accounting firm eons ago. You need to consult a tax professional. There are red flags in your list everywhere.

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Jennifer D.

I have run my own home-based business for 13+ years not (not Rover). Basically, anything that is necessary to run a home office is acceptable, i.e. portions of the phone, internet, home expenses (water, electricity, mortgage, insurance) based on the square footage of your office area, etc. Depending on what types of services you offer, a portion of your car insurance & mileage can be deducted. Pretty much anything you purchase specifically to run your business (from business cards to poop bags) can be written off. Generally, things that you would use anyway, such as vet care for your own pet(s) would not be a write off.

That said, whether or not you USE all the write-offs will depend on your actual income. You do not want to show (much of) a loss. For example, when I made roughly $20,000, I did not use the home office expenses. However, when I made 100,000+ I was scrambling for every write-off I could find!

In the end, when in question, always consult with a tax professional. They will also know the ins & outs of the current year's tax laws.

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Landscaping is not an acceptable write-off, unless you can show that it is 100% for dog area upkeep.

Suzanne S.

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Walt G.

I agree with the others you must contact a tax professional. One note the home deduction is a huge flag and may tag you for an audit - best of luck

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Can we deduct veterinary expenses for our own dogs as they need to be healthy in order to run our business?

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