You better watch out, you better not cry – Deductible Business Gifts

The old-as-time Christmas song “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” makes Santa Claus sounds like an ideal accountant

He’s making a list, he’s checking it twice
Gonna find out who’s naughty or nice
Santa Claus is coming to town.

Are Business Gifts Deductible? A question that comes up often, especially during the Holiday Season and Year End Tax Planning.

In short yes, but limited to $25/client per year.

Per the IRS, If you give business gifts in the course of your trade or business, you can deduct all or part of the costs subject to the following limitations:

• You deduct no more than $25 of the cost of business gifts you give directly or indirectly to each person during your tax year.
  • If you and your spouse both give gifts to the same person, both of you are treated as one taxpayer.
  • Incidental costs such as engraving, packing or shipping AREN’T included in the $25 limit if they don’t add substantial value to the gift.
  • For purposes of the $25 per person limit, don’t consider gifts costing $4.00 or less that have your business name permanently engraved on the item and which you distribute on a regular basis.
• Any item that could be considered either a gift or as entertainment is generally considered entertainment and cannot be deducted.
• You need to have records that prove the business purpose of the gift as well as the details of the amount spent.

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