Special Investigation:

The Mystery of the Personal Charges on the Business Card

Filed by: Detective Debit

Category: Special Investigations

A credit card with a blue design and a chip, placed on top of a black and gray payment terminal.

Let’s follow the breadcrumbs.

Detective Debit dressed for Halloween, investigating the spooky truth behind personal charges on the business card. A festive look for a forensic financial case.

A tale as old as entrepreneurship: “I’ll just put it on the business card this one time.” Fast-forward 90 days, and that innocent coffee run has turned into a murky mix of Target runs, family dinners, and late-night Amazon sprees.

A small brown dog lying on what appears to be a bed with a blue blanket, possibly sleeping or resting.
A small dog, possibly a poodle or similar breed, lying on a bed with brown and white bedding.
A closed crime scene tape with yellow and black stripes and the words "CRIME SCENE" written on it, overlapping with the text "Scene of the Crime:" in black cursive font.
A cartoon ghost with a skull-like face and large black eye sockets, appearing surprised or scared, with a tattered sheet-like body.

Detective Debit noticed something strange while reconciling a client’s books: Starbucks, DoorDash, and even a Target toy aisle charge—all on the business card.

At first, the client insisted they were legit “work expenses.” But when pressed, admitted: “I was in a hurry, didn’t have my wallet… and it just became a habit.”

Spoiler: the IRS does not care about wallet location.

Starbucks coffee drink with whipped cream in a plastic cup with a green logo

Primary Suspect: Commingling of Funds

The most common bookkeeping crime on record. Blurring the line between personal and business spending throws off reports, frustrates tax pros, and makes audits a nightmare.

Handwritten notes on lined paper with headings 'Business' and 'Personal' listing various topics and questions.
Three raccoons dressed in Halloween costumes: one as a witch, one as a ghost, and one as a pumpkin.

Accomplices in the Crime:

  • "I’ll fix it at tax time”

  • “My accountant will sort it out”

  • “It’s technically a business dinner because I was thinking about work”

  • “It’s just one charge…”

Evidence on File:

  • Dozens of small personal charges scattered across months

  • Misleading profit & loss statements with inflated expenses

  • Receipts with no business purpose or notes

  • Business tax return flagged for inconsistent deductions

Magnifying glass examining the word 'EVIDENCE' with footprints around it.

Cleanup Protocol: When Personal Expenses Creep into Your Business Books

Bookkeeping clues for handling personal charges on a business card: label clearly, exclude from tax reports, use Owner’s Draw, review monthly, educate on legit expenses, keep personal cards nearby, and get a final review before closing the books.

Create a “Draw” or “Owner’s Pay” category if reimbursement is appropriate

  • Review monthly for rogue entries — especially from shared accounts

  • Educate the team (or yourself!) on what counts as a legit business expense

  • Keep personal cards nearby so the business card isn’t the easy option

  • Ask your bookkeeper for a final review to be audit-ready

Silhouettes of flying bats against a black background.

Remember: a clean ledger keeps your deductions legit — and your future self grateful.

A flashlight illuminating an open book.

Lesson from the Ledger:

“Just this once” is the gateway to financial clutter. Mixing business and personal doesn’t just make for messy books — it weakens your credibility and puts your deductions at risk.

Final Notes from Detective Debit:

If the IRS ever comes knocking, the burden of proof is on you. Keeping business expenses squeaky clean isn’t just good practice — it’s your first line of defense.

Suspicious charges lurking in your ledger? Book a free consultation with Detective Debit. Let’s sort the deductible from the debatable before the next audit hits.

Detective Debit in her Halloween witch hat, ready to investigate spooky bookkeeping mysteries like personal charges on the business card.
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Case File 017 — The Disappearing Contractor Payments

They were paid. The money left the account. But come tax time… their 1099s were empty. Detective Debit follows the misclassification trail to find where the records vanished—and how to make sure contractors don’t disappear from the IRS’s radar.