What You Need to Know About Itemized Deductions

Itemized deductions can be quite helpful when it comes to saving money come tax time. However, these deductions can also be a bit tricky, and if you don’t handle them correctly, you could find yourself in hot water or even getting audited. To help you avoid any problems with the IRS and to still enjoy your itemized deductions, follow a few simple tips.   

Remember, Nothing Stays the Same

To begin with, understand that nothing about itemized deductions stays the same. Just because you received a particular deduction last year is no guarantee that you’ll get it again this year.

The IRS has been known to change the rules on who can get certain deductions or even to get rid of deductions entirely. So, never file for any deduction, even if you’ve enjoyed it in the past, without double-checking the current year’s tax rules, or, even better yet, having your accountant do it for you.

Retain Proof of Charitable Donations

One of the most commonly utilized itemized deductions is the one set aside for those who donate to charity. Whether you’re donating goods or money, however, keep in mind that you’ll need to get and hang onto some kind of proof of your donation.

This could be a canceled check, a receipt, a bank record, or some other kind of proof. Without proof, though, you cannot rightfully claim your deduction, and you could get in trouble if the IRS checks up on your claims.

Be Smart About Medical Expenses

A lot of people don’t realize that they can deduct certain medical expenses, and, if you’re one of those people, then you’re missing out! Don’t cheat yourself out of available deductions, such as deducting premiums for Medicare Part D prescription drug insurance or other premiums.

Keep in mind, too, that you can deduct mileage related expenses for travel you did for medical reasons. There are also other, surprising medical expenses you can deduct, up to a certain amount; you can learn about many of these by reading the IRS Publication 502, termed “Medical and Dental Expenses.

In truth, though, knowing what medical expenses you can deduct and how much you can deduct can be tricky, so it’s always in your best interest to get a professional accountant to help you handle and file your deductions. In fact, that brings us to our next and most important tip.

Work with a Pro!

No matter how much reading and researching you do, the fact remains that tax laws, even and perhaps especially those laws that relate to tax deductions, are tricky. And, if you do something wrong, even on accident, it’s all too easy to look like you’re trying to cheat the system.

Don’t land yourself in this kind of hot water or, on the flip side, miss out on perfectly legitimate deductions. Get a tax professional to help you so that you never lose out on or make a mistake on another deduction again!

Related articles

• Do I Qualify for Absolute Zero? (turbotax.intuit.com)

Job Related Tax Deductions

Ordinary and necessary job expenses which were not reimbursed are deductible. Ordinary and

necessary expenses reimbursed by the employer and reported as income in box 1, Form W-2, are also deductible. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in the taxpayer’s line of work. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for work. An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary.

Tax Reporting

A taxpayer must report on his or her tax return if any of the following apply.

•    The employee claims any job-related vehicle, travel, transportation, meal, or entertainment expenses.

•    The employer reimbursed any reportable expenses.

•    The employee claims any job related expenses as a reservist, a qualified performing artist, a fee-basis state or local government official, or an individual with a disability claiming impairment-related work expenses.

Standard Mileage Rate

The business standard mileage rate for 2013 is 56.5¢ per mile.

Examples of other job expenses deductible as unreimbursed employee expenses:

•    Business bad debt.

•    Business liability insurance premiums.

•    Casualty and theft losses of property used in performing services as an employee.

•    Depreciation on a computer or cell phone required by an employer.

•   Dues to professional organizations and chambers of commerce if work related and entertainment is not one of the main purposes of the organization. Any part of dues that is for lobbying and political activities is nondeductible.

•    Education expenses related to work.

•    Job search fees to employment agencies and other costs to look for a new job in the taxpayer’s present occupation, even if the taxpayer does not find a new job.

•    Legal fees related to work.

•    Licenses and regulatory fees.

•    Lobbying expenses to influence local legislation, and other exceptions to the general rule.

•    Malpractice insurance premiums.

•    Occupational taxes.

•    Office-in-home expenses as an employee.

•    Phone charges for business use, but not the cost of basic service for the first phone line into a residence.

•    Physical examinations required by employer.

•    Protective clothing required for work, such as hard hats, safety shoes, and glasses.

•    Safety equipment needed for work.

•    Subscriptions to professional journals and trade magazines related to work.

•    Tools and supplies used for work.

•    Uniforms required by employer that are not suitable for ordinary wear.

•    Union dues and expenses.

Job Search Expenses

Expenses incurred in looking for a new job in the taxpayer’s present occupation are deductible, even if the taxpayer does not get a new job. Job search expenses are not deductible for:

•    Looking for a job in a new occupation.

•    A substantial break between the ending of the last job and looking for a new job.

•    The taxpayer looking for a job for the first time.

Uniforms and Work Clothes

The cost and upkeep of uniforms and work clothes are deductible if:

•    The taxpayer must wear them as a condition of employment, and

•    The clothes are not suitable for everyday wear.

•    It is not enough that the taxpayer wears unique or distinctive clothing on the job, or that the taxpayer does not in fact wear the work clothing away from work.

Lobbying Expenses

Expenses to influence legislation are not deductible.

Exceptions:

•    Expenses for attempting to influence the legislation of any local council or similar local government, including an Indian tribal government.

•                      Up to $2,000 per year (not counting overhead expenses) for in-house expenses to influence legislation or  communicating directly with a covered executive branch official.

•   Expenses of a professional lobbyist in the trade or business of lobbying on behalf of another person.

Residential Telephone Line

The cost of local telephone service for the first telephone line into a taxpayer’s residence is not deductible, even if it is used in a trade or business. Any added charges for business use are deductible, such as the cost of a second line, fax line, long distance, voice mail, internet service, etc.

Unclaimed Reimbursements

If a taxpayer is entitled to be reimbursed by his or her employer for job-related costs but does not put in a claim for reimbursement, the costs are not deductible.

Travel Expenses

Travel expenses are ordinary and necessary expenses incurred by a taxpayer while on temporary travel away from his or her tax home for business purposes. A taxpayer travels away from his or her tax home if the taxpayer’s business duties require an absence from home that is substantially longer than a day’s work, and the taxpayer needs sleep or rest to meet the demands of the work while away from home. The tax home includes the entire city or general area in which the taxpayer’s business is located.

Standard meal allowance. A taxpayer can substantiate meal and incidental expenses with a standard meal allowance ($46 per day from October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013). Additional amounts may apply for certain high-cost localities, based on IRS Publication 1542, Per Diem Rates.

Lodging. Although an employer can reimburse an employee tax free for qualified lodging at per diem rates, for an employee or self-employed individual, only actual expenses are allowed for lodging.

Related articles

• Your Money Matters: End of year tax planning tips (wgntv.com)

Education Expenses

Expenses for education are deductible even if the education leads to a degree, if it meets at least one of the following tests.

1)  The education maintains or improves skills required for the taxpayer’s present work.

2)  The education is required by the taxpayer’s employer or by law.

Exception: Education is not deductible, even though one or both of the above tests are met, if the education:

1)  Is needed to meet the minimum educational requirements to qualify for the taxpayer’s line of work, or

Seal of the United States Department of Education (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2)  Will lead the taxpayer to qualify for a new line of work. This is true even if the taxpayer does not intend to enter that line of work.

Education Required By Employer or By Law

Once minimum educational requirements are met for a job, an employer or the law may require additional education. This additional education is deductible if all the following requirements are met.

•   It is required to keep the taxpayer’s present salary, status, or job.

•    The requirement serves a business purpose of the employer.

•    The education is not part of a program that will qualify the taxpayer for a new trade or business.

If a taxpayer receives more education than required by an employer or by law, the additional education can qualify as work-related education only if it maintains or improves skills required for a taxpayer’s present line of work. This could include refresher courses, courses on current developments, and academic or vocational courses.