Question

Michelle operates several food trucks. Indicate the amount (if any) that she can deduct as an ordinary and necessary business deduction in each of the following situations.

a. Michelle moves her food truck between various locations on a daily rotation. Last week, Michelle was stopped for speeding. She paid a fine of $215 for speeding plus $170 for legal advice in connection with the ticket.
b. Michelle paid $865 to reserve a parking place for her food truck for the fall football season outside the local football arena. Michelle also paid $210 for tickets to a game for her children.
c. Michelle provided a candidate with free advertising painted on her truck during the candidate's campaign for city council. Michelle paid $960 to have the ad prepared and an additional $660 to have the ad removed from the truck after the candidate lost the election.

Answer 1

a. Michelle moves her food truck between various locations on a daily rotation. Last week, Michelle was stopped for speeding. She paid a fine of $215 for speeding plus $170 for legal advice in connection with the ticket.

• Speeding tickets and fines cannot be deducted as business expenses. But Michelle can deduct all legal expenses.

b. Michelle paid $865 to reserve a parking place for her food truck for the fall football season outside the local football arena. Michelle also paid $210 for tickets to a game for her children.

• Michelle can deduct the $865 paid for the space outside the football field, but she cannot deduct the tickets (personal expenses).

c. Michelle provided a candidate with free advertising painted on her truck during the candidate's campaign for city council. Michelle paid $960 to have the ad prepared and an additional $660 to have the ad removed from the truck after the candidate lost the election.

• Political donations are not deductible as business expenses.