Barter is a widely accepted and proven marketing and business management tool. Barter transactions, like cash sales, are taxable and must be reported as income to the IRS. When you receive and spend trade dollars, there are income tax consequences just as though you were using cash.
The Barter Company is a legal third-party record-keeper on par with banks, credit card companies, and other such custodians of taxpayer financial records.
The Barter Company has a responsibility imposed by law to provide the Internal Revenue Service with information on the barter income of each of our clients for the calendar year. We do this on a Form 1099-B, “Proceeds from Broker and Barter Exchange Transactions.” You, as the taxpayer, are required by law to give The Barter Company your Taxpayer Identification Number (either your Employer Identification Number or your Social Security Number), which we need to prepare Form 1099-B. The IRS matches that number to either your business or personal name for accurate reporting.
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding barter and taxes.
* Are there any tax advantages or disadvantages to barter? No. You should view barter income, as you would cash income. Barter is a marketing and business management tool, not a tax strategy or tool. Generally speaking, as with cash income, business-related barter purchases are deductible and, conversely, your barter income (sales) and business deductions (purchases) should be accounted for separately on your tax return.
* What constitutes income in barter transactions? Barter income accrues to you or your business when trade dollars are posted to your account, property or services are received, cash is received, or scrip is issued to you as part of a barter transaction.
* In what year are trade dollars taxable? The Internal Revenue Service has ruled that trade dollars earned from your barter sales should be included as income for the tax year in which they are credited to your account.
* How do I know how much barter income to include in my tax return? At year-end, The Barter Company will compute the proceeds from your barter sales and submit this information to the Internal Revenue on Form 1099-B. The Barter Company will also give you a copy of this form or some equivalent documentation. Be sure to include the barter income listed on Form 1099-B in your total income when filing your tax return.
If you have any questions, please give us a call at (770) 591-4343.