The IRS will begin to take a closer look at examining the rapidly growing “sharing economy”. The sharing economy are activities which people get paid for through an online platform. The most popular companies of the sharing economy include Uber, Lyft, Air BnB, Etsy, Fiverr and TaskRabbit. Over the next few weeks I will be focusing on these different activities to raise public awareness regarding the tax consequences involved with the sharing economy.
To begin, I will focus on the transportation sector of the shared economy. This is by far the most booming sector. In fact, it has surpassed taxis/cabs in corporate spending reports. There are two main players in the transportation shared economy game, Uber and Lyft. I personally use Uber almost every weekend and any time I am on vacation. It is easy to use, convenient and cost effective. It is focused on providing the millennial market an easy way to get from point A to point B. Uber and Lyft’s business plans are centered around having “employees” (the drivers) work for them using their personal automobiles. However, in reality, the drivers are not employees of said companies, they are sole proprietors.
What does this mean if you are a driver for Uber or Lyft?
The answer….Congratulations you now own your own business! We help Milwaukee and Waukesha Uber and Lyft drivers with tax preparation and tax planning.
The reason why the IRS is trying to raise public awareness among the shared economy community is because that these drivers don’t realize that they are their own business and not employees. This can result in major tax problems when it comes time to file your tax return. When it comes to tax preparation, there are some important things you need to know when you own your own business.
Here are five things that all Uber and Lyft drivers should be aware of:
The IRS knows that the shared economy is here to stay and is growing every year. They will begin putting more focus on patrolling the tax returns of taxpayers that participate in these activities. Hammernik & Associates is here to make sure that you stay complaint, tax plan to save money, and know what you can and cannot deduct. Also, as a business owner, you now have additional tax savings opportunities available to you. If you are an Uber or Lyft driver or if you frequently use the service, let it be known that Hammernik & Associates knows how to deal with the tax implications involved with being an Uber or Lyft driver.
Hammernik & Associates helps business owners and individual taxpayers save on taxes by proactive planning.
The next blog post will discuss the home rental sector of the shared economy. Stay tuned.
Have a great weekend,
Nicholas Hammernik, EA
The post Tax Planning If You Drive Uber Or Lyft appeared first on Talking Tax to Milwaukee.
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