6 MLM Business Mistakes The IRS Loves

The IRS lives to find money people leave on the table. You know it, I know it, the IRS knows it. Unfortunately, some folks in the network marketing industry claim deductions they think takes that money off the table.

As they say in the Hertz commercial, "Well … not exactly."

The problem here is this usually gets the IRS' attention and the home business owner gets a love letter inviting them to sit down and talk about those "disallowed deductions" over a nice hot cup of anxiety.

You need a top tax guy.

In MLM many people, who are in a home based business to make extra money, rely on their sponsor or a relative "who did it once" for tax deduction tips. The fact is their information rarely qualifies as professional tax law info.

For this reason it's critical for anyone in MLM to know how to present their tax information to the IRS in a way that is both legitimate and most advantageous to their home business income bottom line.

So, the smart entrepreneur looks to experts in the tax industry to fill that need. And, of course, I rely on just such a "tax guy" for my tax information needs.

In his May 16, 2008 issue of "Tax Tips You Can Bank On" Mr. Mueller shared his thoughts on the tax deductions that scream to the IRS, "I want to be audited!" Here they are:

The Top-6 "Audit-Attracting" Deductions

1. The IRS hates estimates:
Even if a tax deduction actually does come out to an even $500, you might want to change it to $497. Even though $500 may BE precise, $497 LOOKS more precise.

2. Your "Business Use of the Home" deduction:
This should include ONLY the portion of your home used regularly and EXCLUSIVELY for business. If you claim your bedroom, be prepared to prove that you don't sleep. If your Business Use Percentage (BUP) is greater than 10-20% you might want to attach an explanation, using IRS Form 8275, "Disclosure Statement."

3. Personal vehicle used 100% for business purposes:
If it's true, claim it. But if you claim it because you have a sign on your car, that does NOT make it automatically 100% deductible. A "wrap" doesn't do it either.

4. Paying your 8-year-old $100 a week wages as a business employee:
A minor CAN earn up to $5,450 tax-free, but the wages you pay must be "reasonable and appropriate," given their age and type of duties they are performing. (Also, be sure you are following all the steps listed in Chapter 6 of "It's How Much You KEEP, That Counts! Not how much you Make.")

5. Claiming a home-office for a W-2 job:
This can work, BUT it has to be for the convenience of the employer (your boss), not the employee (you). To survive an audit, have a written,signed statement from your employer (on letterhead) stating that you are REQUIRED to have a home-office.

6. Auto-ship or ADP:
If your company's product is nutritional, claiming that you must be a "product of the product" won't pass muster with an auditor. There are other ways to potentially deduct autoship, so don't use this "product of the product" one.

This is just as important as any mlm training you can offer.

In MLM it's important to know how to build a team, train them, and retain them … but unless you're a tax expert willing to give away your time and knowledge to that team, then you also need to give your team access to real professional tax help.

There are a few experts in MLM tax law, and you may want to look for them too, but here's a really good place to start.

Ronald R. (Ron) Mueller, MBA, Ph.D.
Author of "It's How Much You KEEP, That Counts! Not how much you Make".

If you've always dreamed of getting up-close and personal with an IRS auditor, then just ignor the above. Who knows, you might make a friend.

However, if you want to be sure you're IRS bullet proof, then you must make sure you know what you can and cannot deduct. Folks like Mr. Mueller can help you and your team with that.

I appreciate you,

Bill Tessore