Credit Card Interest as a Business Tax Deduction

Improve your business credit history through tradeline reporting, know your borrowing power from your credit details, and access the best funding – only at Nav. On the flip side, incorrectly claiming an expense could cause problems later. If the IRS audits your return, for instance, you could be on the hook for unpaid taxes plus interest and penalties. As for merchant fees, weigh the cost of each transaction against the convenience it provides for your customers.

It’s a different story for businesses, as they can deduct interest charges for all business-related expenses. So, if you used a credit card to purchase a $200 printer for your business and paid $25 in interest while paying it off, you can deduct that $25 from your business income at tax time. Just as in the case with business credit card interest charges, business credit card fees may also have limited deductibility if you also use your card for personal use.

Are Credit Card Fees

Then, when it’s tax time, you’ll be able to write off the percentage of the interest you paid that’s directly related to your business purchases. If you’re paying hundreds — even thousands — in credit card interest fees each year, getting to write off that expense at tax time could take some of the sting out. But unless you’re using a credit card for business expenses, your credit card interest isn’t tax deductible. If credit card interest is related to a deductible business expense, then the interest expense is also deductible. Interest expense is a separate item among other business expenses in a tax return. This line item includes any type of interest paid by the business, whether from credit cards, mortgage on a business property, or a working capital loan.

It can be a savvy financial move to try and accumulate as many legal tax deductions as possible. Tax deductions can provide a way for you to offset some of your income for tax purposes. While credit card fees and interest on a card used for personal expenses aren’t tax-deductible, fees and interest on a card used for business expenses may be.

Business credit card charges and deductible interest

Alternatively, you can also have a credit card that’s in your name personally (which will be the case with small business owners more often than not). If you are using a credit card to make business-related purchases, the interest will be deductible, subject to the limits in the next section. For the most part, any interest incurred in the acquisition of products, inventory, or services needed in the conduct of your business can be tax-deductible. In order for an item to be deductible, the IRS states that it must be both “ordinary and necessary” for business. Though the explanation may be a bit vague, businesses typically can deduct expenses that were used to generate income and operate the business.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards, or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs. To deduct interest you paid on a debt, review each interest expense to determine how it qualifies and where to take the deduction.

Student Loan Interest

One exception to the usual rules about deducting business interest is capitalization of interest. For example, if you buy a car for your business, you’ll typically have to deduct the cost of the car over five years instead of deducting the entire expense in the year you bought it. Expenses that you’re required to depreciate are called ‘capital expenditures’ by the IRS. Here’s the formula to calculate amortizing loan payments and interest-only loan payments is explained. If you use a home office and own your home, your mortgage interest is both a personal and a business expense.

However, if you use your card for any personal expenses, you won’t be able to deduct your credit card interest. Other types of credit card fees that qualify for a deduction are based on the amount and time borrowed. This can include cash, check, and overdraft advances, depending on how the specific credit card structures the payment. Flat-rate service charges on personal cards do not qualify, but service charges on business cards do qualify—provided you use the card in a business. Many small-business owners and entrepreneurs use their business credit cards for personal expenses.

With a credit card balance that doesn’t get paid off periodically, it’s exponentially harder to separate out the business portion of your interest. Yes, you can write off credit card interest for work-related purchases, even if you’re making them on a mostly-personal card. But if you’re an independent contractor, business https://turbo-tax.org/is-interest-on-a-business-credit-card-deductible/ owner, or side hustler, your credit card bills can actually be useful for once. This content has been reviewed by an Enrolled Agent (EA) with the IRS — the highest credential awarded by the agency. Enrolled Agents are empowered to represent all taxpayers before the IRS, on all types of tax-related matters.

When you use a business credit card, you can include the annual fee and other credit card fees as an expense when you file taxes. But if you’re using a personal credit card, fees aren’t tax deductible. One of the best features of business credit cards is the ability to keep your business and personal expenses separate. Business credit cards typically offer reports that make it easy for you to track how much you’ve spent in any category throughout the year — and that includes the amount of credit card interest you’ve paid.

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For example, you can usually deduct interest on student loans—a personal expense. However, if you transfer a student loan balance to a credit card and then incur credit card interest, that interest becomes non-deductible. The ability to claim deductions on various allowable business expenses is an invaluable asset for any entrepreneur or small business owner.

• You need to be sure “your budget is healthy enough to pay down the debt within the introductory period,” Arevalo says.
• Currently, the government allows a deduction for interest paid on outstanding student loan debt, mortgage and home equity loan debt, business expenses, and interest on money borrowed to purchase investment property.
• If you’re a teacher, you’ve likely become accustomed to paying some classroom expenses out of pocket.

One way to avoid business credit card interest is to use a card such as The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, which requires payment in full each month. Or you can just pay your bill in full each month on any other business credit card. The important factor in determining whether any interest expense is tax-deductible is the use of the proceeds. In https://turbo-tax.org/ the case of a credit card, this means the purpose of the item you purchased with your card. Interest on an item purchased for business use would qualify for a deduction, while an item purchased for personal use would not. While student loans can be a burden, at least you can deduct any interest you pay on them from your taxable income, reducing your tax burden.

Courtney Johnston is an editor for CNET Money, where she focuses on taxes, student loan, credit card, banking, mortgages and loan content. Passionate about financial literacy and inclusion, she has prior experience as a freelance journalist covering policy, financial news, real estate and investing. In English Literature and Professional Writing from the University of Indianapolis, where she also worked as a graduate writing instructor. Even though credit card interest is not tax-deductible, you can still take some steps to reduce the amount you pay in interest charges. For one, you could consider transferring any balance you carry on your card to another balance transfer card that comes with a promotional 0 percent interest rate. You may be out of luck if you were crossing your fingers for a write-off in the upcoming tax season when it comes to credit card interest.

• But if you’re self-employed or a business owner, you can deduct credit card interest accrued on your business credit card.
• The cleanest and most defensible way to deduct business credit card interest charges is to have a credit card in the name of your business.
• MyBankTracker generates revenue through our relationships with our partners and affiliates.
• And, as many small business owners have come to find, it can also come in handy during tax season.
• Navigating the complex maze of expenses and small business tax deductions can be a challenge, and no one wants to leave a valid deduction on the table.