Is this a justifiable business expense?

[Anonymous]

I’m 40 and moved back home recently to be able to help my parents, who are getting older and sometimes need some help going to doctor’s appointments, etc.

One great aspect of the situation has been that I’ve been able to save much more money with no housing and other related expenses: no utilities, no DoorDash, reduced food expense (I do purchase some of the groceries), etc.

It’s also been great in other ways. I don’t cook anymore so I have more free time and my stress level has gone down. I honestly now think living on your own as a single person is overrated.

The one aspect that has suffered is my dating/sex life. I was considering renting an apartment to address this but wanted to see if I could consider this as my office and deduct it as a business expense.

I would still retain my parents’ home as my primary residence. I understand that business expenses need to be considered normal and justifiable, and I think an office certainly would fall in this category – the only question is whether the IRS would object to my using an apartment as an office. My answer to that is that they’re basically the same price: the 1BR apartment would be $2,100/month (or around $2,500 including parking and utilities), and the nicer office buildings around me are not any cheaper, though I could get something in a strip mall for less.

The apartment would also make it easier to work late if needed. Since my parents are retired, they often have guests and grandkids over, which can make it loud even into the evening. However, my true motivation in getting an apartment is restoring my dating/sex life. Nevertheless, it would be huge if I can claim this as a business expense and just wanted thoughts from others with experience if this would cause me any problems with the IRS if I were to be audited. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Thank you. I've had a really difficult night and I needed a laugh.

[Anonymous]

Could you use the apartment to sleep with the auditor, if necessary?

[Anonymous]

You are the $250 poster

[Anonymous]

In the same world where “helping your parents” is moving into their house, having them cook for you, and you eating all their groceries (rent free)… renting a crash pad to have one night stands is easily a deductible business expense. Explain to the IRS youre a prostitute and you had to maintain 100% of this apartment for business continuity. You can’t lose. What are they? The morality police. You’ll be fine.

[Anonymous]

Is this ChatGPT?

[Anonymous]

I’m glad you all found the post entertaining. Now can anyone actually answer my question?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the same world where “helping your parents” is moving into their house, having them cook for you, and you eating all their groceries (rent free)… renting a crash pad to have one night stands is easily a deductible business expense. Explain to the IRS youre a prostitute and you had to maintain 100% of this apartment for business continuity. You can’t lose. What are they? The morality police. You’ll be fine.

Off-topic, but I absolutely am helping my parents. You know it takes about 90 seconds extra to chop some additional vegetables to make dinner for 3 instead of 2, right? The 15-20 minutes I spend cleaning up every night after dinner more than make up for that. I have also reduced their daily tasks by setting up Amazon auto-deliveries for many of the items they used to go to the store to purchase.

And of course, that’s on top of taking them to the doctor when needed. They have told me how much easier it has made their lives having me at home.

[Anonymous]

https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/home-office-deduction

Here are the rules, best of luck. Your issue is going to be proving the exclusive use part since your main motivation is to use it for dating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/home-office-deduction

Here are the rules, best of luck. Your issue is going to be proving the exclusive use part since your main motivation is to use it for dating.

Thank you. I think this was implied, but obviously I'm not going to disclose the non-work-related motivation (though if I have the place, I would probably end up using it to a significant degree for work to avoid the noise issue mentioned in my OP). I figured that since it's separate from my primary residence, it would be OK.

[Anonymous]

if you are a strictly w2, if you have income from 1099s then yes.

[Anonymous]

if you are a strictly w2 no, if you have income from 1099s then yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 40 and moved back home recently to be able to help my parents, who are getting older and sometimes need some help going to doctor’s appointments, etc.

One great aspect of the situation has been that I’ve been able to save much more money with no housing and other related expenses: no utilities, no DoorDash, reduced food expense (I do purchase some of the groceries), etc.

It’s also been great in other ways. I don’t cook anymore so I have more free time and my stress level has gone down. I honestly now think living on your own as a single person is overrated.

The one aspect that has suffered is my dating/sex life. I was considering renting an apartment to address this but wanted to see if I could consider this as my office and deduct it as a business expense.

I would still retain my parents’ home as my primary residence. I understand that business expenses need to be considered normal and justifiable, and I think an office certainly would fall in this category – the only question is whether the IRS would object to my using an apartment as an office. My answer to that is that they’re basically the same price: the 1BR apartment would be $2,100/month (or around $2,500 including parking and utilities), and the nicer office buildings around me are not any cheaper, though I could get something in a strip mall for less.

The apartment would also make it easier to work late if needed. Since my parents are retired, they often have guests and grandkids over, which can make it loud even into the evening. However, my true motivation in getting an apartment is restoring my dating/sex life. Nevertheless, it would be huge if I can claim this as a business expense and just wanted thoughts from others with experience if this would cause me any problems with the IRS if I were to be audited. Thanks.

For salary income, no. IF that were the case, everyone would be doing it. For example, if I live in the same city as my parents (or close friends or relatives), I'd use their address as my address for all mail and communication, live in a nice rental apartment and claim that as an office. How would the IRS know? Aren't you kinda trying to do the same thing? Sure, you cut vegetables and cleanup, etc. but..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the same world where “helping your parents” is moving into their house, having them cook for you, and you eating all their groceries (rent free)… renting a crash pad to have one night stands is easily a deductible business expense. Explain to the IRS youre a prostitute and you had to maintain 100% of this apartment for business continuity. You can’t lose. What are they? The morality police. You’ll be fine.

Off-topic, but I absolutely am helping my parents. You know it takes about 90 seconds extra to chop some additional vegetables to make dinner for 3 instead of 2, right? The 15-20 minutes I spend cleaning up every night after dinner more than make up for that. I have also reduced their daily tasks by setting up Amazon auto-deliveries for many of the items they used to go to the store to purchase.

And of course, that’s on top of taking them to the doctor when needed. They have told me how much easier it has made their lives having me at home.

They say that because they love you and enjoy your company. You could have set up Amazon deliveries from thousands of miles away. It sounds like it isn't a lot of doctors appointments since you said "as needed" not "weekly for chemo." If your parents have grandkids regularly visit they likely have other family support close by that could take to some doctors appointments. You're not doing them huge favors, but maybe you will as they age.

Live in your own apartment and stop by your parents regularly if you want, even for meals if you're trying to save money. It is going to kill your dating life when your date realizes you live with your parents and rent an apartment for sex.

Or, for those times your parents have people over in the evenings use a "we work" space. That is probably deductible and may even help you find a date. I can see it being lonely to work and live at home.

[Anonymous]

Or just buy one of these.. The payments on these will be a lot less than $2300 a month.

https://boingboing.net/2021/11/30/this-magnificent-1970s-custom-sex-machine-van-just-sold-for-40000.html