Can I deduct business expenses paid from a personal account?

Yes — in general, you can deduct a business expense even if you paid it from a personal account, as long as the expense was ordinary, necessary, and properly documented for the business.

The main issue is usually what the expense was for, not whether you used a personal card or bank account.

Practical ways to handle it:

• Reimburse yourself from the business if the business owes you for a legitimate expense. Keep the receipt and record the reimbursement clearly.
• Record it as an owner contribution if you paid personally and are putting your own money into the business.
• For sole proprietors and single-member LLCs taxed as disregarded entities, the expense is generally reported on the business tax return (often Schedule C), with the personal payment supported by receipts and records.

Important cautions:

• Mixing personal and business money can make bookkeeping messy and can complicate your records.
• For LLCs and corporations, commingling funds can create legal and tax headaches, but it does not automatically erase limited-liability protection by itself; whether liability protection is affected depends on the facts and applicable law.
• Keep the receipt, business purpose, date, and amount for every expense.