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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Keeping Family and DC food separate
Controlled Chaos 09:32 PM 09-13-2014
How do you keep (or do you?) food separate for tax and reimbursement papework. Do you have a separate space? Is it all about receipts? I am trying to figure out how to better calculate my costs and track food used for DCKs. What do you do? I am not on the food program yet but hope to be soon.
earlystart 11:06 PM 09-13-2014
I don't store it in separate spaces or even make separate shopping trips. I just circle the daycare food on the receipt and write the total dollar amount of daycare food on the top of the receipt
Thriftylady 06:56 AM 09-14-2014
I do separate transactions at the store so I have two receipts. I don't store it separately. Sometimes someone in the family gets into something (my 16 yr DD loves graham crackers), but I loan from my other home stuff to daycare also so I think it works out.
Shell 07:09 AM 09-14-2014
I don't keep it separate, but use the standard deduction for federal at the end if the year. So, each meal and snack is only worth x amount, regardless of what I have paid for- no receipts necessary. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
midaycare 07:09 AM 09-14-2014
Can we deduct food? What about the food program? I thought if we were on the food program we could not deduct food ...
NeedaVaca 07:37 AM 09-14-2014
Originally Posted by Shell:
I don't keep it separate, but use the standard deduction for federal at the end if the year. So, each meal and snack is only worth x amount, regardless of what I have paid for- no receipts necessary. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
This is what I do as well.I don't keep it separate, but use the standard deduction for federal at the end if the year. So, each meal and snack is only worth x amount, regardless of what I have paid for- no receipts necessary. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
itlw8 08:48 AM 09-14-2014
I do not separate food. I use the standard food deduction n come out ahead of keeping track..
And YES if you are on the food program you deduct the food. The money you get from the food program has to be listed as income. Then under expenses you list your cost of food. If you are on tier 2 the cost will be much more than the reimbursement . If you are on tier 1 make sure you are listing those extra snacks that you can not claim . They are also deductible.
I claim breakfast on the food program but serve a small snack in the morning that is also deductible on my taxes.
If they reimburse you for your children"s food due to your income THAT is not income and you do not include it. Plus you may not include the meals for children that live in the house as a cost.
Please get Toms books on record keeping . If you are missing the deduction on food what else are you missing.
And YES if you are on the food program you deduct the food. The money you get from the food program has to be listed as income. Then under expenses you list your cost of food. If you are on tier 2 the cost will be much more than the reimbursement . If you are on tier 1 make sure you are listing those extra snacks that you can not claim . They are also deductible.
I claim breakfast on the food program but serve a small snack in the morning that is also deductible on my taxes.
If they reimburse you for your children"s food due to your income THAT is not income and you do not include it. Plus you may not include the meals for children that live in the house as a cost.
Please get Toms books on record keeping . If you are missing the deduction on food what else are you missing.
itlw8 08:49 AM 09-14-2014
Originally Posted by Shell:
. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
Why would you not take your mileage as a deduction ???. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
Controlled Chaos 09:03 AM 09-14-2014
Originally Posted by midaycare:
Can we deduct food? What about the food program? I thought if we were on the food program we could not deduct food ...
I am not on the food program yet. But hope get that squared away as soon as I am licensed in my new space.Can we deduct food? What about the food program? I thought if we were on the food program we could not deduct food ...
midaycare 09:33 AM 09-14-2014
Originally Posted by itlw8:
I do not separate food. I use the standard food deduction n come out ahead of keeping track..
And YES if you are on the food program you deduct the food. The money you get from the food program has to be listed as income. Then under expenses you list your cost of food. If you are on tier 2 the cost will be much more than the reimbursement . If you are on tier 1 make sure you are listing those extra snacks that you can not claim . They are also deductible.
I claim breakfast on the food program but serve a small snack in the morning that is also deductible on my taxes.
If they reimburse you for your children"s food due to your income THAT is not income and you do not include it. Plus you may not include the meals for children that live in the house as a cost.
Please get Toms books on record keeping . If you are missing the deduction on food what else are you missing.
I have Tom's books. But this is my first year, and everything is a bit of a blur. I'm still not clear on everything, even after reading his books. I do not separate food. I use the standard food deduction n come out ahead of keeping track..
And YES if you are on the food program you deduct the food. The money you get from the food program has to be listed as income. Then under expenses you list your cost of food. If you are on tier 2 the cost will be much more than the reimbursement . If you are on tier 1 make sure you are listing those extra snacks that you can not claim . They are also deductible.
I claim breakfast on the food program but serve a small snack in the morning that is also deductible on my taxes.
If they reimburse you for your children"s food due to your income THAT is not income and you do not include it. Plus you may not include the meals for children that live in the house as a cost.
Please get Toms books on record keeping . If you are missing the deduction on food what else are you missing.
I was planning on claiming the extra snack, so I already was planning on that. This thread is making it sound like their is a deduction for groceries. But if there is a standard deduction, then I am fine because I have an accountant who is knowledgable in child care - I just haven't say down with him yet.
Shell 04:25 PM 09-14-2014
Originally Posted by itlw8:
Why would you not take your mileage as a deduction ???
I know I should. It's one of those things I haven't gotten around to recording, and I am the type that has to be super accurate. Do you deduct yours? If so, is there a specific way you do it?Why would you not take your mileage as a deduction ???
Shell 04:28 PM 09-14-2014
Originally Posted by midaycare:
I have Tom's books. But this is my first year, and everything is a bit of a blur. I'm still not clear on everything, even after reading his books.
I was planning on claiming the extra snack, so I already was planning on that. This thread is making it sound like their is a deduction for groceries. But if there is a standard deduction, then I am fine because I have an accountant who is knowledgable in child care - I just haven't say down with him yet.
The first year there is a bit of a learning curve, in my experience. If you go to an accountant, he will know about these deductions, but it will make life much easier if you have a record of the # of snacks and meals you provided in the year. For a standard deduction, those numbers are just multiplied by the given amount per snack/meal.I have Tom's books. But this is my first year, and everything is a bit of a blur. I'm still not clear on everything, even after reading his books.
I was planning on claiming the extra snack, so I already was planning on that. This thread is making it sound like their is a deduction for groceries. But if there is a standard deduction, then I am fine because I have an accountant who is knowledgable in child care - I just haven't say down with him yet.
midaycare 06:11 PM 09-14-2014
Originally Posted by Shell:
The first year there is a bit of a learning curve, in my experience. If you go to an accountant, he will know about these deductions, but it will make life much easier if you have a record of the # of snacks and meals you provided in the year. For a standard deduction, those numbers are just multiplied by the given amount per snack/meal.
I'm thinking because I use MM, it is automatically recorded?The first year there is a bit of a learning curve, in my experience. If you go to an accountant, he will know about these deductions, but it will make life much easier if you have a record of the # of snacks and meals you provided in the year. For a standard deduction, those numbers are just multiplied by the given amount per snack/meal.
itlw8 06:37 PM 09-14-2014
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Not all accountants know what they are doing with family childcare... Yes you need to record attendance at every meal and snack. but not your own children.
I do keep grocery receipts to prove my mileage. I figure 2/3 of the mileage is childcare so 2/3 of the trips are childcare.
Not all accountants know what they are doing with family childcare... Yes you need to record attendance at every meal and snack. but not your own children.
I do keep grocery receipts to prove my mileage. I figure 2/3 of the mileage is childcare so 2/3 of the trips are childcare.
jenboo 06:24 AM 09-15-2014
I keep everything separate.
DH and I both go to the grocery store. He gets a cart and shops for us. I get a cart and shop for the daycare.
I have a separate fridge in the garage that's daycare only. I have separate shelves in the pantry that are for daycare only.
DH and I both go to the grocery store. He gets a cart and shops for us. I get a cart and shop for the daycare.
I have a separate fridge in the garage that's daycare only. I have separate shelves in the pantry that are for daycare only.
Blackcat31 06:40 AM 09-15-2014
I keep my groceries separate by keeping them in a separate house. 
CraftyMom 07:34 AM 09-15-2014
Originally Posted by Shell:
I don't keep it separate, but use the standard deduction for federal at the end if the year. So, each meal and snack is only worth x amount, regardless of what I have paid for- no receipts necessary. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
I do the same. I don't keep it separate, but use the standard deduction for federal at the end if the year. So, each meal and snack is only worth x amount, regardless of what I have paid for- no receipts necessary. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
I don't store it separately. Sometimes I go to get what I've planned for a meal and there isn't enough because my family has eaten it, but I just go with the flow and alter the meal for that day
Second Home 09:36 AM 09-15-2014
I keep receipts but use the standard deduction . I do have to store certain items like cereal & snacks in containers and not in the original box.
butterfly 11:05 AM 09-15-2014
I used to keep it all separate. Including separate receipts as much as possible, but after the first year, I found out that the standard deduction was more profitable for me than tracking all my actual expenses.
I do have a separate daycare kitchen so the food is separate.
I do have a separate daycare kitchen so the food is separate.
TomCopeland 11:24 AM 09-15-2014
Originally Posted by midaycare:
I have Tom's books. But this is my first year, and everything is a bit of a blur. I'm still not clear on everything, even after reading his books.
I was planning on claiming the extra snack, so I already was planning on that. This thread is making it sound like their is a deduction for groceries. But if there is a standard deduction, then I am fine because I have an accountant who is knowledgable in child care - I just haven't say down with him yet.
"Everything is a bit of a blur..." Yikes! I don't mean to confuse you further! Report money you receive from the Food Program as income and report all meals and snacks you serve as an expense. Using the standard meal allowance is the easiest way to claim food expenses. Don't count as income any reimbursements you receive from the Food Program for your own children and don't count any food expenses for meals/snacks served to your own children.I have Tom's books. But this is my first year, and everything is a bit of a blur. I'm still not clear on everything, even after reading his books.
I was planning on claiming the extra snack, so I already was planning on that. This thread is making it sound like their is a deduction for groceries. But if there is a standard deduction, then I am fine because I have an accountant who is knowledgable in child care - I just haven't say down with him yet.
TomCopeland 11:26 AM 09-15-2014
Originally Posted by midaycare:
I'm thinking because I use MM, it is automatically recorded?
Yes, once you enter a meal/snack served to a child, it's automatically added to your meal/snack totals and multiplied by the standard meal allowance rate, to give you your food deduction.I'm thinking because I use MM, it is automatically recorded?
Childminder 11:42 AM 09-15-2014
I keep nothing separate and just mark every meal that I provide for day care kids claiming on my taxes using the standard deduction. I have in the past kept track of every bite but came out better using the standard deduction rather than keeping track.
midaycare 12:23 PM 09-15-2014
Originally Posted by TomCopeland:
"Everything is a bit of a blur..." Yikes! I don't mean to confuse you further! Report money you receive from the Food Program as income and report all meals and snacks you serve as an expense. Using the standard meal allowance is the easiest way to claim food expenses. Don't count as income any reimbursements you receive from the Food Program for your own children and don't count any food expenses for meals/snacks served to your own children.
Sorry it's not your fault Tom! There is just so much info in your book that I can't retain it all "Everything is a bit of a blur..." Yikes! I don't mean to confuse you further! Report money you receive from the Food Program as income and report all meals and snacks you serve as an expense. Using the standard meal allowance is the easiest way to claim food expenses. Don't count as income any reimbursements you receive from the Food Program for your own children and don't count any food expenses for meals/snacks served to your own children.
I'm going to reword that post so it sounds better.
EntropyControlSpecialist 12:45 PM 09-15-2014
Originally Posted by Shell:
I don't keep it separate, but use the standard deduction for federal at the end if the year. So, each meal and snack is only worth x amount, regardless of what I have paid for- no receipts necessary. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.
I do the same. I don't keep it separate, but use the standard deduction for federal at the end if the year. So, each meal and snack is only worth x amount, regardless of what I have paid for- no receipts necessary. You can also deduct mileage for going to the store to get the food- I haven't done this, but it is an option and can save you $.