you claimed you could deduct part of your mortgage for a garage sale.
I claimed that a garage sale was a business activity. I said if you didn't think an annual garage sale was sufficient to count as a "business", you could engage in online retailing or other additional activities as well.
You absolutely are allowed to deduct the costs for that part of your home you use exclusively for business purposes. Right from your own link:
"Part 1—Part of Your Home Used for Business
Lines 1–3.
If you figure the percentage based on area, use lines 1 through 3 to figure the business-use percentage. Enter the percentage on line 3.
You can use any other reasonable method that accurately reflects your business-use percentage. If you operate a daycare facility and you meet the exception to the exclusive use test for part or all of the area you use for business, you must figure the business-use percentage for that area as explained under Daycare Facility, earlier. If you use another method to figure your business percentage, skip lines 1 and 2 and enter the percentage on line 3.
I'm beginning to get offended at the repeated insinuations that I am advocating fraud. You are looking at BUSINESS ACTIVITIES and declaring them to be fraud. You've adopted some sort of weird victim mentality here. You think that if "businesses" do it, it's permitted by the government, but if you do the exact same thing, it's fraud. It's not.
Have you ever worked as a 1099 contractor? Have you ever had any income whatsoever that didn't come from a W2 or capital gains? It really doesn't seem like it. Your position on what constitutes a "business" seems to be some kind of megacorporation, rather than a sole proprietorship. You seem to be under the impression that unless you can survive off the income of your business, it's not a business at all.
Fraud can be overstated deductions.
I never suggested overstating deductions. Your argument here is bordering on libelous.
Given that you aren’t allowed to deduct your mortgage for a garage sale,
Your own link says otherwise.
the amount of your phony deduction could be considered fraud.
There was no phony deduction.
You can’t deduct hobby expenses.
True, but I never suggested a hobby. I suggested a business. And I described numerous activities - not just a garage sale - that would constitute business. You consistently ignore the remainder of my argument: if you don't think a garage sale is sufficient to constitute a "business", you can engage in online retailing and other activities as well.
“Rent is high” you: “buy a house” “Police are corrupt” you: “become a policeman” “Tax policy is unfair” you: “start a successful business”
Your first two points don't arise from any of my arguments. As for the third, I never said "start a successful business". I've said repeatedly that 30% of home businesses never show a profit. They still get to deduct their expenses. Your third observation would be better stated as "Businesses get unfair tax breaks" : "Start a business, so you an claim the same tax breaks"
That’s not the discussion and you know it.
Actually, it is the entire discussion. The fact that the IRS requires your regular commute and other expenses to be included in your negotiated pay as a W2 employee means that your expenses are effectively considered "reimbursed". Businesses don't get to claim reimbursed expenses as deductions. If you don't want to include such expenses in your regular pay, you can work as a 1099 contractor rather than a W2 employee.