Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was just thinking, when you give yourself a business name when posting classifieds, do you then have to claim that you run a business when filing taxes? Or is it really no different than just using your own name. I've never noticed this topic addressed before and I'm curious.

I am in CA so where ever your located laws might be different.
With that said, when I looked into getting my CITES permits and talking to every form of my Local, State, and Govt. departments I haven't been given a full answer. The closest I got was from the local County that said in my home I could not have more than 5(?) Pythons if I was breeding them. IF you sell any, then it is considered a "Business" and a License is then needed.
So I would say just giving yourself a Business name is Ok, heck I have one. It's when you start breeding and selling that a Permit will be required and then the Tax stuff kicks in.
Again though this is in CA im sure the other 49 states follow a similar idea, but the best thing would be to talk to your County/City Business area, sorry I can't think of their proper title. I think you might get an answer from the Tax Assesor.
I know this isn't exactly what you were looking for but I hope it helps somewhat. Good luck!

-----
In Loving Memory of the best Brother God gave me
Sgt. Arnold DuPlantier II
(Army National Guard, Charlie Rock Co.)
06/01/1979-06/22/2005
Support Our Troops

First off I am no attorney, so dont take me word for word. If you are claiming to have a business, IE a business name, you need to register it. Why? Just one example, what if that business already exsists... you call your self that name, you have commited a serious crime. Different states have different rules. Some states are fine with you selling under a perticular dollar amount with out a business liscense and paying sales tax... some are not. But you still cant call your self something you are not (A business name). Liability wise, you are a fool to not contact an attorney and have them draw up (and talk to you about) limited liability papers for your business. When you deal with genetics and thousands of dollars in snakes, you need to protect your personal self against law suites.

Put simply, yes you need to register it. Take a class on small business so you know how to file taxes. I will give you some advise, if you are not planning on pumping some money and time tword this, dont get into it. Its so easy to just say they are bred by you and not by a business.

I guess that's all I need to know. I have heard that it takes ALOT to be considered a business when you figure what you put into feeding, housing, purchasing new animals, etc. Basically it takes a long time before you're making enough profit to be any "threat" to the IRS. I was just wondering if it's kosher to be throwing around catchy little names for yourself. Not only do I make next to no profit off my animals anyway right now, because I put the money I make right back into them, I'm not real into involving government in ANY part of my life. I have no problem sticking with my real name at all and that's what I'll be doing. Thanks again for the input. Ryan.

Contact the Ficticious(SP) Business Name Dept. with your local Govt. offices. I can't believe I forgot that. I dont put my business name on ANYTHING just for that reason. I am still drawing up my business plan
-----
In Loving Memory of the best Brother God gave me
Sgt. Arnold DuPlantier II
(Army National Guard, Charlie Rock Co.)
06/01/1979-06/22/2005
Support Our Troops