by Viktoriya Khusit | Jul 3, 2016 | Blog |
One cannot deduct the value of time or services when he or she works as an unpaid volunteer, but can deduct cost of buying and cleaning uniform if the uniform is unsuitable for normal wear. For example nurse who is volunteering for local charity can deduct cost of buying and cleaning uniform. But if charity is asking for black bottom and white top-this is not deductible, because this type of clothes is suitable for normal wear.
If you make goods and donating them, you cannot deduct their value, only what it cost to make them. For example, if one makes cookies, deductible are only cost of cookies ingredients. If you are donating used clothes, value is calculated at 25% of the original cost, and of course you can deduct full price if your items brand new, but not more than original price paid.
If value of donated property is overstated, IRS may assess the 20% or 40% penalty on the underpayment of the tax.
by Viktoriya Khusit | Jul 2, 2016 | Blog |
Hobby is an activity where primary motivation for engaging into activity is to have fun, not to make profit.
Hobby expenses might be deductible. If hobby producing income, then one can deduct expenses associated with a hobby up to the amount of the income; however, a taxpayer cannot carry forward the deductions. Meaning if expenses are $5000 and income earned from hobby $1000, one can deduct $1000 in expenses, but remaining $4000 will be lost and cannot be carried over to future years. Another thing to remember, that one can deduct hobby expenses only if he/she itemizes instead of taking a standard deduction and hobby deductions are subject to 2% AGI limit.
As far as tax law if the activity shows profit for 3 out of 5 years, activity is considered to be engaged in for profit and treated a business.
by Viktoriya Khusit | Jul 1, 2016 | Blog |
If you currently employed and looking for another job in your line of work, job hunting expenses such as cost of attending career fairs and resume preparation, miles driven to and from and out of town expenses for the interview or career fair, also fees paid to employment agencies are deductible. If you are looking for a job in the different field or changing your career, those expenses are not deductible. Also one needs to be currently employed to deduct job hunting expenses. One cannot take a break from work to attend a college or raise a child, then start looking for a job, and deduct expenses, those are not deductible. Job hunting expenses are subject to 2% AGI limit and one needs to itemize in order to claim these expenses.
