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Writer's pictureShannon Shawgo

Credit Card Fees - Don't Miss Out on Tax Deductions




When are my taxes due?

The typical last day to turn in taxes or file for an extension of time to the IRS is April 15 unless it falls on a holiday. Due to the 2023 calendar layout, for most US businesses and citizens alike, taxes are due Tuesday, April 18, 2023.


There are a few exceptions to that deadline:

Not only will your tax filing deadlines change based on your business structure, the way your business is taxed can vary, too. Multi-member LLCs, S corporations and partnerships have an earlier tax filing day- March 15, 2023. These businesses are structured to treat business income as the owner’s personal income and apply the company’s income, deductions, and credits to the personal statements. This tax structure is known as pass-through taxation. This means business income is treated as the owner’s personal income. So, if this is how you’re structured, you’ll need to finish filing your return on March 15, 2023.


Other exceptions for the tax deadline include national disasters. When torrential rainstorms, mudslides and tornadoes hit California, Georgia and Alabama, the IRS recognized these disasters may put those counties behind for taxes. To see if you are eligible for Tax Relief in Disaster Situation, check out the IRS link here for specific county information.The new deadline applies to various individual and business tax returns as well as payments.


Another exception is for those military personnel serving in a combat zone and Members of the U.S. Armed Forces who perform military service in an area outside a combat zone if their service is in direct support of military operations in the combat zone, and they receive special pay for duty subject to hostile fire or imminent danger as certified by the Department of Defense. His/her deadline is extended for the period of time in the combat zone plus 180 days after the final day in the zone. The extension period will also include the amount of time that he/she was employed in the combat zone before the filing date if it occurred during the active IRS filing period. Find those combat zones and other information on the IRS website here for more details.


IRS Publication 535

If you are filing taxes for a business or own a business, IRS Publication is critical to inspect to ensure that you are deducting every expense possible for your business. You can view it here to inspect important items such as the most current standard mileage rate, what you can deduct for business expenses, and what intangibles are as defined by the IRS. It discusses common business expenses and explains what is and is not deductible. The 2022 IRS Publication 535 will be the final revision, so this is the most up-to-date publication there is for the coming tax seasons.



What is a Business Expense According to the IRS

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), business expenses are ordinary and necessary costs incurred to operate your business. Examples include inventory, payroll and rent. Fixed expenses are expected costs that incur annually or monthly no matter the profit of the business — such as rent and insurance. Variable expenses change based on business decisions and actions — such as sales commissions, gas for business vehicles and shipping costs.


Deducting Credit Card Fees

Is your accountant deducting your credit card fees you paid in the past year? Accepting credit card payments is crucial to supplier/buyer relationships so you never want to miss out on the best partnership, but sometimes it comes at a cost. Upon investigation into IRS Publication 535 on page 47, it discusses “other expenses” that businesses occur and can deduct — including credit card fees.


The Publication states:

“ Credit card convenience fees. Credit card companies charge a fee to businesses who accept their cards. This fee when paid or incurred by the business can be deducted as a business expense.”





Although credit card and virtual card fees are typically below 3%, make sure you are getting this back in business expense deductions on this year’s tax filing. Don’t miss out on cash to obtain for your business! Virtual cards qualify as a specific credit card and are essential as businesses move into the digital age. Innovation and technology require a fee that the U.S. government understands is a typical part of doing business and supports these transactions for the good of the economy.


Where to File My Taxes?

If you are not already set up with an accountant, we would recommend one of these many online services you can look into:




Don’t Forget

Before submitting your final tax file to the IRS make sure you are deducting all business expenses possible. Deducting your credit card fees is a great way to please your suppliers by accepting their preferred payment method while increasing your deductible business expenses. Double check with your accountant that they are including this on their calculations and tell them Singe sent you. We care because to us, Business is Personal. Every dollar matters for a successful business.


New to the idea of virtual cards and integrated payables? Stop wasting time and energy on manual payments and look into virtual cards. Suppliers love them, your wallet loves them, and soon so will you!


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