$700,000+ Overclaim by Alliantgroup Client Shows Value of §179D Expertise
The United States Tax Court recently ruled that Edwards Engineering could only deduct $304,640 of the $1,037,237 it claimed under Section 179D for the installation of energy efficient commercial building property (EECBP) it performed at a Veterans Affairs hospital in 2013. Q: Edwards Engineering is a client of what tax consulting firm, a popular subject […]
No, You Can’t Deduct a Harley as a Medical Expense
“A client injured his wrists, so the doctor told him to keep his wrists elevated. He asked me if he purchased a Harley with those high handlebars, can he deduct that as a medical expense? I told him to show me the prescription from the doctor.” — Lawrence Pon, CPA, told the Washington Post when […]
Questionable Tax Deduction of the Day: Engagement Cruise and Wedding Expenses
Every tax professional has run across questionable expenses provided by their clients. Maybe you’ve got a used car-lot proprietor who insists that his hairpiece is crucial to his business appearance and, thus, his ability to put people behind the wheel of their dream ride. Perhaps you’ve got a sociologist that is conducting weekly research in the champagne room of a local gentleman’s club. Or maybe you’ve recently concluded that the process of, and expenses related to, tying the knot have been such a burden that it is completely acceptable to ram it onto your 1040:
Dear Caleb,
I have now figured out why the divorce rate is so high in America. Apparently, according to one of my taxpayers, wedding expenses and cruises for celebrating your engagement are now considered “write-offs.” Unfortunately, I cannot find this particular subject in THE CODE – but I think I’ll take my taxpayer’s word for it.
Maybe you should pass on this tidbit – I sure wish I had known about this obscure write off before I got married, but obviously, it’s time for me to start planning my next one. It’s going to be HUGE!!
– One of the many tax preparers currently wishing they remembered what their home looks like.
Our tipster insists that her client provided the receipts but didn’t want to forward them (something about client confidentiality). Of course, if you’ve got something that tops this, you’re invited to share it with us. In the meantime, any tax sages out there that wish to advise/debate the credibility of including the cost of sheet cakes from Costco, amateur photographers and invitations that may or may not kill you on a Schedule A (or wherever) are free to do so.