Personal Computers, Consulting and Taxes.



        This may or may not be a reasonable question, but since I know a
 number
 of the faculty types on this board consult from time to time, I thought I
 might pose a Tax question.
         I know full well that it is very(!!!) hard to justify a home computer
 as a business cost as a professor, as the tax laws say that if the only
 reason it exists is for your convenience, it ain't deductable.
         Let us say, just for arguments sake, that in the summer or your off
 time, you perform some consulting and are payed for that work.  Can you
 buy a computer (in this hypothetical case a portable to take to and from
 the consulting work) and write it off (using some appropriate
 depreciation schedule, probably over three years) as a busines expense?
 This hypothetical case supposes that you do not currently pay estimated
 tax, but crank up your normal deductions at your college to get a
 correct payment by the years end?
         I am not trying to trick the government, bless their little hearts
 and points of light, just what is in the realm of possible and ethical.
         You may post or mail to me if you feel that this is the wrong forum
 for this exchange.
 --
 _______________________________________________________________________
 Steven K. Pollack               |
 University of Cincinnati        |
 Department of Materials Science |   I notice that you are still
   & Engineering                 |   using polymers!
 498 Rhodes Hall  ML#12          |     - Lt. Commander Montgomery Scott
 Cincinnati, OH 45221-0012       |       U.S.S. Enterprise
 spollack (- at -) ester.mse.uc.edu       |
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