Can expenses for proposal to purchase and accountant be deducted on personal income taxes?
By John R Mott | July 2, 2012
Renee asked:
I expended funds to investigate a business that I did not start (was too risky). Funds for proposal to purchase and for accountant. Is there anyway to use these expenses as deductions to my personal taxes?
John R Mott answered:
I regret to report that your costs are not deductible for tax purposes. Costs of this nature are considered to be on account of capital. They were not technically expended for the purpose of earning income from a business; they were expended in connection with the possible purchase of a business. Had you followed through with the acquisition, these costs could have been capitalized to the purchase cost. In this case, you essentially have a non-deductible capital loss.