living expenses

phubbucks71
phubbucks71 Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

My wife works out of town during the week and the most cost effective way was to rent a short term property, as living in a hotel is far to expensive.
Our primary residence is 4 hours away from her job-site and impossible to there and back everyday, which would been 8 hours round trip.

She does not receive a living expense for this rental can that be claimed as a deduction?

Answers

  • JMSSGV
    JMSSGV Member Posts: 208

    If she is a W-2 employee and not self-employed, there is no longer any provision for deducting any kind of business expenses. Your state may have different rules.

  • phubbucks71
    phubbucks71 Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    I am self employed so i can deduct from my earnings then?

  • MatthewD
    MatthewD FreeTaxUSA Team Posts: 503

    Hi phubbucks71,

    The business expense must be directly related to the business income on the schedule C. It sounds like her rental is related to the income she is earning as a W2 employee. If that is the case, then the expense should not be included on your Schedule C.

  • phubbucks71
    phubbucks71 Member Posts: 3 Newcomer

    still don't understand why i cannot deduct under my schedule c

  • MatthewD
    MatthewD FreeTaxUSA Team Posts: 503

    The IRS says in the Schedule C instructions, "report your income and expenses related to that
    income on Schedule C." In other words, the Expenses on the Schedule C MUST be related to the income. If the expenses for the use of the rental are NOT related to the income (in other words, used to generate the income) on the Schedule C, then you should not list that expense on the Schedule C, even though your are filing a Joint return.

    For additional details on the Schedule C, see these IRS instructions.