The year I accidentally wrote off my cat as a business expense

Back in 2018 I was filing my first solo tax return and just threw every receipt into a shoebox. My cat Felix kept jumping on my laptop while I worked from home, so I figured I could deduct his vet bills as an office expense. It was my accountant who finally laughed and asked if Felix had a LinkedIn profile, that's when it clicked I had no clue what actually counted. Anyone else ever try to claim something ridiculous before learning the real rules?

3 comments

3 Comments

noraroberts17d ago

Well, technically if he guards your office from mice that counts as security!

sean4816d ago

Is it sad I can relate to the cat more than I want to admit?

michael_williams17d ago

My last job I had a cat that "guarded" the office from a stuffed mouse I kept on my desk. He'd stare at it for hours like it was a serious threat to national security. Meanwhile actual mice were probably running wild in the break room somewhere, but he was too busy with his fake nemesis. I guess if you count aggressively napping near a plastic toy as security work then sure, he was basically a top tier guard. Honestly my own productivity levels went way down because I spent too much time watching him fail at his one job.