Tax Tips about Hobbies that Earn Income

Millions of people enjoy hobbies.  They can also be a source of income.  Some of these types of hobbies include stamp or coin collecting, craft making and horse breeding.  You must report any income you get from a hobby on your tax return.  How you report the income is different than how your report income from a business.  There are special rules and limits for deductions you can claim for a hobby.  Here are basic tax tips your should know if you get income from your hobby:

• 1.  Business versus Hobby.  A key feature of a business is that you do the activity to make a profit.  This differs from a hobby that you maybe do for sport or recreation. There are nine factors to consider when you determine if you do the activity to make a profit.  Make sure you base your decision on all the facts and circumstances of your situation.  Refer to Publication 535, Business Expenses to learn more.  You can also visit IRS.gov and type "not-for-profit" in the search box.

• 2.  Allowable Hobby Deductions.  You may be able to deduct ordinary and necessary hobby expenses.  An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted for the activity.  A necessary expenses is one that is helpful or appropriate.  See Publication 535 for more on these rules.

• 3.  Limit on Expenses.  As a general rule, you can only deduct your hobby expenses up to the amount of your hobby income.  If your expenses are more than your income, you have a loss from the activity.  You can't deduct that loss from your other income.

• 4.  How to Deduct Expenses.  You must itemize deductions on your tax return in order to deduct hobby expenses.  Your costs may fall into three types of expenses.  Special rules apply to each type.  See Publication 535 for how your should report them on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions.