Maximizing Tax Savings: Guide to Writing Off Cell Phone Expenses

[chefsteph07]

I just got a cell phone back in May, it is w/ Sprint and when they announced that we were partnering w/ Sprint, I signed on for the employee discount. My question is..how do you write off your cell bill? Just the calls you made on it for PC, a portion of it, the whole thing or what? And do you write off the discount as well? How exactly does that work when you are doing taxes? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[chefsteph07]

NO ONE writes off any amount on their cell bill????

 

[Admin Greg]

As an independent consultant, you can write off a portion of your cell phone bill as a business expense on your taxes. This includes the cost of calls, data usage, and any other fees associated with your cell phone plan.To determine how much you can write off, you can use the percentage of your cell phone usage that is related to your business. For example, if 50% of your calls and data usage are for your PC business, you can deduct 50% of your monthly cell phone bill as a business expense. Keep track of your cell phone usage for the year so you have accurate records for tax purposes.You cannot write off the employee discount as it is already factored into the cost of your cell phone bill. Only the portion of the bill that is directly related to your business can be deducted.When filing your taxes, you will need to report your cell phone expenses on Schedule C (Form 1040) as part of your overall business expenses. It is recommended to consult with a tax professional for specific advice on how to properly deduct your cell phone expenses on your taxes.