Pet Sitting Through Rover? Here Are 3 Tax Breaks You Might Be Eligible For

For some people, pet sitting is a full-time job. But there are plenty of people who do pet sitting as a side hustle to earn extra money. 

Either way, using an app like Rover can be beneficial. You can grow your client base. You also get the benefit of having new clients pay for your services upfront so there aren't any issues with receiving your money.

Meanwhile, no matter how many hours a week of pet sitting you do, if you earn income that way, you may be eligible for a number of tax breaks. Here are three to keep in mind.

1. Rover fees

Rover charges fees to cover its costs and make money. So when you secure a booking through Rover, you ultimately don't get your rate in full, because a portion is deducted for fees. And while those fees might cause less money to hit your bank account per booking, the good news is that you can deduct those fees on your tax return.

At the end of the year, Rover will provide you with a 1099-K Summary showing how much of your gross income from the app consisted of fees. You can then deduct those fees from your taxable income. So if you earned $30,000 in gross income from Rover but lost $3,000 to fees, you can deduct that $3,000.

2. Dog treats and supplies

Many pet owners like to provide their own supplies when you pet sit for them. But you may decide to maintain your own stash of treats, chew toys, and other supplies to ensure that things go smoothly.

These are all expenses you're incurring in the course of earning money. So they count as deductible expenses for tax purposes. However, you'll need to keep really good records so you know what amount to claim.

A good bet is to keep a log of your receipts so your total deduction is easy to calculate at the end of the year. At the same time, take pictures of your receipts and save those files electronically in case the IRS needs proof that you purchased the things you say you did.

3. Travel costs

You may be asked to care for pets in their owners' homes, as opposed to yours. In that case, you're allowed to deduct the cost of getting to and from clients' properties. 

The IRS allows drivers to deduct $0.655 per mile when driving is done for business purposes. So if you drive 300 miles in the course of a year for pet sitting gigs, you'll be entitled to a deduction of $196.50. 

But as is the case with expenses, it's also important to keep great mileage records. A good bet is to keep a notebook in your car that you update each time you drive for income-earning purposes. You'll want to record the date of your trip, the mileage, and the name and address of the client you're going to see.

Pet sitting through Rover could be a great way to earn a side income -- or even a primary income. Make sure to claim all of the tax breaks you're entitled to if you're working a pet sitting gig.