
Social media is one of the worst places to get tax tips. Influencers aren't concerned with accuracy or legality, they just want clicks and attention. So some of the worst ideas get traction on Tik Tok, which is the worst site by far,
Which of these Tik Tok tax strategies is legitimate?
1- Buy a luxury vehicle and write it all off in one year to offset other income.
2- Hire your kids to work for you and deduct their salaries.
3- Move to Texas or Florida to escape state income taxes.
4- Deduct expenses for your dog as a guard dog.
5- Don’t file taxes at all- it’s voluntary or a scam.
scroll down for answers

1- This one is very popular on Tik Tok and very wrong. They also encourage people to buy other luxury items like boats, expensive watches, and vacations and write them off. Any type of purchase like this has to have a legitimate business purpose. The vehicle must be used in the business most of the time, and in most cases there is an annual limit as to how much can be written off. Filing a business return with large losses to offset other income is a red flag and invites an audit. Good luck proving that your purchases are ordinary and necessary for the work you do, even if that is "influencer."
2- Hiring your kids can be a legitimate business expense, but videos on Tik Tok are not stressing the need for the work to be age-appropriate. Most children under the age of 14 are not eligible for many jobs. Given the abuse this invites, it's borderline illegitimate.
3- This is the only legitimate one, and isn't on Tik Tok that much. While some states like Texas and Florida have no income tax, they have other taxes and other considerations (weather, schools, infrastructure, etc) that need to be weighed before deciding if they are more affordable than other states.
4- This is bogus. The only case in which it might be legitimate is if the person is a rancher or has a business that is prone to thefts, and the dog is stationed specifically to prevent crimes, and not kept as a household pet. For most of us, Rover barking out the window doesn't count.
5- This claim has been around as long as taxes have, and it is wrong. It isn't just on Tik Tok, but court cases have proven over and over that the governments have a legitimate role in collecting income tax. Avoiding taxes completely is not voluntary and can be subject to significant fines and penalties, including jail time.
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