How to Maximize Your Start-Up Cost Deductions

Coming up with a solid concept for a new business and working to get your operation off the ground can be an expensive undertaking. But the good news is that you can write off a number of the expenses involved with the startup process.

That said, the rules for deducting startup expenses are a bit different from those for writing off general business expenses incurred by an existing company. There are some exceptions to this as you’ll read below.

To confirm what you can write off and when, you should consult with us and your certified public accountant (CPA) to understand exactly how to record your startup expenses in a way that most benefits your business. 

In the meantime, we’ll take a look at some of the basic rules for writing off startup expenses and how you might use them to reduce your new company’s income tax liability.

Which Start-up Costs Can Be Deducted?

According to the IRS, there are three categories of startup expenses that are eligible for deductions: expenses for creating your business, expenses for launching your business, and expenses for organizing your business. Each category consists of a number of different types of costs, including the following:

CREATING YOUR BUSINESS

These expenses include activities associated with researching your business concept and finding a proper location for your business. Expenses in this category might include consumer surveys, feasibility studies, market research, and travel expenses to potential business sites.

LAUNCHING YOUR BUSINESS

These are costs incurred while getting your business up and running and include things like recruitment and training your team, selecting vendors, advertising, and professional fees, such as our legal fees. However, you cannot include equipment purchases in your startup expense deductions, as they are depreciated under non-startup business deduction rules.

ORGANIZING YOUR BUSINESS

You can also write off costs associated with creating your business entity, which might include filing fees, legal fees, accounting fees, and expenses for holding organizational meetings.

How to Take Start-up Deductions

The IRS allows you to write off up to $5,000 in startup costs and another $5,000 in organizational costs in your first year of business (as opposed to amortizing the deductions over a 15-year period), but only if your total startup costs are $50,000 or less.

If your startup or organizational costs exceed $50,000, the first-year deduction cap will be reduced by the amount over $50,000. For example, if your startup expenses total $54,000, your first-year eligible deduction is reduced to just $1,000, and the rest of your expenses would need to be amortized over 15 years.

However, if your total startup costs are more than $55,000, the first-year deduction is eliminated entirely, and all of your start-up costs will be amortized.

TIMING MATTERS

It’s often best to take the startup deductions for your business in the same year your business opens, but not always. If you will not generate profits in your first year, it could be better to amortize your deductions over time.

If your business never gets off the ground and fails before you actually open your doors, your startup costs could be considered personal costs and would not be eligible for these deductions. In certain cases, however, these costs could be regarded as capital losses, so always consult with your CPA to ensure you are taking advantage of every available tax break.

MAXIMIZE YOUR START-UP DEDUCTIONS

Writing off your startup costs isn’t quite as straightforward as deducting regular operating business expenses. We’d love to help you navigate the process and maximize the tax savings available to your new business. Contact me today to schedule your appointment.

This article is a service of Amy L. Jenkins, Family Business Lawyer™. We offer a complete spectrum of legal services for businesses and can help you make the wisest choices on how to deal with your business throughout life and in the event of your death. We also offer a LIFT Start-Up Session™ or a LIFT Audit for an ongoing business, which includes a review of all the legal, financial, and tax systems you need for your business. Call us today to schedule.