Game: Lower taxable income through real estate investing?

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@Kin Lay Seems from your post that your knowledgeable about navigating the tax rules. Among the deductions that you mention are many that could be questionable, but that are nonetheless commonly taken. From a purely technical standpoint achieving valid tax deductions is more difficult than you'd imagine. For example, check out what the IRS has to say about travel, meals, and entertainment at https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463/index.html. See what the IRS has to say about work-related education at https://www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch12.html. In your post, it seems you've tried to address @Dave Toelkes point by saying that the training will enhance your skill set for your current position.The upshot of all this is that much of what your proposing falls into areas in which many taxpayers take many liberties, but regarding which you may want to get advice from a tax advisor that knows your overall financial and tax profile.You mention formation of an LLC as a component of your tax strategy. From a purely technical perspective, formation of an LLC has little impact on tax liability. It may alter some aspects of the tax filing, but doesn't impact tax liability. Some say it adds a veneer of legitimacy when taking "business expense" deductions that are questionable. Again, that's the kind of thing that a tax advisor may be able to assist with.BTW, although a CPA, I don't give tax advice (at least not of this nature).There are others on BP that can help with this. For example, @Lance Lvovsky.

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I want to change the strategy a little bit. I actually have an eBay store where I sell merchandises and I made a profit for the past 4 years. The profits for year 1 is around 3000, but declined to 400 this year as competition increases and eBay stricter and continuous changing rules on HTML and JavaScript rules for small store seller (eBay will delete your list if you don't correct what they ask). Sometimes I have no idea what eBay wants me to correct in my listing template because I am not technical savvy enough to know those coding language.In this case, can I use coding bootcamp as marketing expense in order for me to meet eBay policy and create better and more attractive listing template to appeal the potential buyer?

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Thank you @Bernard Reisz for the mention.@Kin Lay Let me know if you have any specific tax questions. Based on what you posted, I recommend you get together with a CPA who can help implement sound tax strategy for you that is tailored to your specific needs.

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I think you are taking a huge stretch here. When you consider that the training is not employer required and is not needed to maintain or improve the skills needed in your present work, an employment related business expense deduction is questionable in my mind. Get around the issue by asking your employer to pay for the training. Make the same argument about how the training will enhance your value to the company as it evolves.

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@Dave Toelkes and @Bernard Reisz Thanks for the suggestion. Maybe I should change the presentation style of the coding bootcamp. Let me give you more detail about the bootcamp as education expense. It is for front-end web development, but not offered through university. I know I have mentioned that the coding bootcamp is used for finding an additional part time job to earn extra money and it helps with gaining knowledge on automation process at the current job (accounting and finance position). (Note: completion of coding bootcamp does not guarantee the person will get a coding job as competition has increased when more and more coding bootcamps are on the market)Here is IRS education expense qualification:You can deduct the costs of qualifying work-related education as business expenses. This is education that meets at least one of the following two tests. The education is required by your employer or the law to keep your present salary, status, or job. The required education must serve a bona fide business purpose of your employer.The education maintains or improves skills needed in your present work.However, even if the education meets one or both of the above tests, it isn't qualifying work-related education if it: Is needed to meet the minimum educational requirements of your present trade or business, orIs part of a program of study that will qualify you for a new trade or business.You can deduct the costs of qualifying work-related education as a business expense even if the education could lead to a degree.Maybe instead of saying to find an additional part-time job, I change my argument to just this coding bootcamp will helps me gain technical knowledge on how to implement the robotic automation in the company by understanding how to talk to the technology team on technical issue and understand what they are doing. This would also improve my value in the company by having skillset that no one else on my department has. Should this be okay now if IRS challenge this coding bootcamp as education expense?

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Check with your tax advisor on the bootcamp. Generally, training for a new job is a personal expense and not deductible.International investing brings foreign taxes into play. Plus, property may not be very liquid should you decide you have to sell...and then there is the risk of unfavorable exchange rates eroding your equity and making your loan payments even higher.