I recently got a gig for Windows, iOS, and Android app QA for 6 months as an independent contractor.
I’m based in the US.
If I already claim home office for my Android development, is it safe to take the standard mileage deduction for my new gig? I feel the gig is close enough to being related to Android development, so they could be considered a client that has to do with my business.
Watch it… you really want the contracting to be no more than X percentage of your income. I am NOT a tax adviser, but the general idea is that you don’t want the taxman to be able to claim it was your job and therefore mileage is not allowed/etc. In order to do this, you need significant income from other sources… or you need to be employed by a company that has MANY employees AND a place of business (not a contract staffing company).
Find a good tax guy and chat to him. Even if it costs you a few hundred, it is WAY better (and CHEAPER!) than getting audited every year for the next XX years!