Getting a tax deduction is every tax payer's goal. Luckily, the laws in taxes make it simple and easy to reach this goal. One can decrease taxable income through several tax deductions or lessen tax liability through a range of credits.
Here are lists of achievable tax deductions. The lists are helpful guide to taxpayers.
Business Expenses
1) For employees, job expenses that were not reimbursed. The amount should not exceed 2% of the adjusted gross income (AGI) and if the expenses can be itemize. So, if the AGI is $100,000, the employee should present at least $2000 worth of business expenses before one would enjoy the tax deduction.
2) For self-employed, business expenses can be fully deducted. Review the IRS Publication 535 for more valuable information.
Promotion and Advertisement Expenses - The items are deductible only if expenses are applicable for one's profession or trade.
Publications and books
1) Books
2) Newspapers
3) Trade journals
4) Publications
Fees and Dues
1) Fees to the services of persons in one's profession that are part of a professional organization.
2) Initiation fees, union dues, and assessments to unemployed union members that needs benefit payments.
3) Professional regulatory fees.
4) Fees to Chambers of Commerce and related organizations.
5) Licenses paid to local or state government.
Research and Education
1) Educational expenses that helps one's skills to improve.
2) Research expenses.
Supplies and Equipment
1) Use of computer in business. Employees can apply for deduction if the item is for the employer's convenience and is a requirement for employment.
2) Tools and supplies utilize in one's work.
Home Office
1) Home office expenses only if part of the home is exclusively and regularly used for work. For employees, the home office is also for the employer's convenience.
Internet - Employees can apply for deduction if the item is for the employer's convenience and is a requirement for employment.
Expenses for Job Hunting - Employees can only apply for tax deduction if the job hunt is for the present field of work. One must not be changing specialization or a first time job hunter.
1) Preparation of resume which includes the cost of producing and sending.
2) Fees of employment agencies.
3) Fees of executive recruiters.
4) Costs of portfolio preparations.
5) Career counseling that aids in improving one's position.
6) Fees paid to legal and accounting during negotiations with employment contract.
7) Advertising.
8) Cost of traveling to job interviews.
9) Long distance telephone calls to potential employers.
10) Purchased newspapers and business publications to check out employment ads.
11) Half of the cost of meals paid that was directly related to one's job hunt.
Entertainment and Meals - 50% of the meal and entertainment costs are tax deductible. Log the date, place, total amount, people involved, purpose of the meeting or event, and the discussed business. Receipts over $75 should be preserved.
Telephone Charges
1) Use of cellular phone for business.
2) Long distance telephone business calls that are charged to home telephone.
3) Separate business phone line.
Travel and Transportation
1) Costs of travel acquired while away from home because of business.
2) Costs of travel related to temporary job assignment.
3) Costs of transportation between one's home and temporary job location. If the applicant has no permanent work place but usually works and lives in the urban area and the temporary job location is outside the urban area.
4) Costs of transportation between one's home and temporary job location if he has at least one permanent workplace for the related employment. The distance does not matter in this case.
5) Costs of transportation from one job to the other if the applicant has two places for work in a day.
6) In case of self-employed and has a home office, all costs of business travels are deductible.
Gears and uniform
1) Protective gears and clothing.
2) Uniforms with the exception of full time armed forces members
3) Costs of dry cleaning the protective clothing or uniforms.
4) Specialized clothing fashioned for one's job as long as it is not appropriate for an everyday wearing.
5) Safety equipments which include safety glasses, safety boots, hard hats and gloves.
Miscellaneous
1) Gifts where only up to $25 per beneficiary are deductible.
2) Passport used for business travel.
3) Postage.
4) Printing and copying.
5) Office supplies.
6) Professional and legal services for tax preparation.
7) Medical exams obliged by the employer.
8) Occupational taxes that has a flat rate declared by the city or local government for the benefit of workers in the area.
9) Business liability for insurance premiums.
10) Job dismissal for insurance premiums.
11) Damages paid to an ex-employer for a break of employment contract
12) Contributions of employees to state's disability funds
The items included are not comprehensive and are sometimes not deducted. A lot of the items are conditional, may apply only in specific situations and are affected by supplementary rules.