Most Overlooked Deductions

Please select a deduction from the list below:

38 Overlooked Business Deductions

1. Accounting
2. Advertising
3. Automobile and truck expense
4. Bank charges
5. Business interest
6. Cell phone
7. Commissions
8. Delivery and freight
9. Dues and subscriptions (business related)
10. Equipment rent
11. Gifts to clients (up to $25 per client)
12. Incorporation Fees
13. Insurance
14. Janitorial
15. Laundry and cleaning
16. Legal and professional
17. Licenses
18. Meal and entertainment
19. Mileage
20. Miscellaneous
21. Office expense
22. Outside services (lawn care, car washes, etc.)
23. Pager
24. Parking fees and tolls
25. Permits and fees
26. Postage
27. Printing
28. Rent
29. Rental cars
30. Repairs and maintenance
31. Security
32. Supplies
33. Telephone
34. Tools
35. Travel
36. Uniforms
37. Utilities
38. Wardrobe expenses
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19 Overlooked Casualty & Theft Loss Deductions

1. *Insurance and Reimbursements
2. Bathrooms
3. Bedrooms
4. Childern’s clothing
5. Den
6. Dining Room
7. Electrical Appliances
8. Entrance Hall
9. Garage
10. Jewelry
11. Kitchen
12. Laundry & Basement
13. Linens
14. Living Room
15. Men’s Clothing
16. Miscellaneous
17. Recreation Rooms
18. Sporting Equipment
19. Women’s Clothing
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12 Overlooked Contractors (Home Improvement, Builders, Painters) Deductions

1. Advertising
2. Cell Phone
3. Gas
4. Lease Equipment
5. Lease Payment
6. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
7. Permits
8. Protective Gear (Boots, Gloves, Clothes)
9. Rental Equipment
10. Supplies/Materials
11. Tools
12. Uniforms
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16 Overlooked Daycare Services Deductions

1. Accounting
2. Advertising
3. Cell Phones
4. Equipment
5. Food
6. Insurance
7. Laundry
8. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
9. Office Expense
10. Office Phone
11. Rent/Lease
12. Repairs/Maintenance
13. Supplies
14. Tools
15. Utilities
16. Wages/Salaries
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13 Overlooked Entertainers (Musicians, Comedians, Dancers) Deductions

1. Accounting
2. Advertising (flyers, business cards)
3. Cell Phone
4. Equipment used to perform services
5. Laundry/Dry Cleaning
6. Meals & Entertainment
7. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
8. Payouts to individuals who assist or manage
9. Rental Cars
10. Rental Equipment/Supplies
11. Supplies
12. Travel Expenses (hotel, airfare, etc.)
13. Wardrobe/Costumes
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11 Overlooked Fire Fighters Deductions

1. Cell Phone
2. Certifications (classes)
3. Dry cleaning
4. Internet
5. Meals
6. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
7. Office Expenses
8. Parking
9. Protective Gear
10. Supplies
11. Tools
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11 Overlooked Flight Attendants Deductions

1. Cell Phone
2. Certifications (Classes)
3. Dry Cleaning
4. Internet
5. Meals
6. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
7. Parking
8. Professional upkeep
9. Supplies (panty hose, uniform accessories, shoes, unreimbursed clothing)
10. Taxi Fees
11. Wardrobe Expenses
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10 Overlooked Food Servers & Bartenders Deductions

1. Cable (if required by employer)
2. Cell Phone
3. Classes (wine tasting, etc.)
4. Continuing education related to your profession
5. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
6. Professional Upkeep
7. Special Shoes or Boots
8. Supplies (table brush, bottle opener, cork screw)
9. Tip Out
10. Uniforms
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15 Overlooked Hair Stylist/Barbers (Salon Owners) Deductions

1. Advertising
2. Booth rent
3. Business Phones
4. Cell Phones
5. Dry cleaning/Laundry
6. Equipment
7. Gifts to clients (up to $25.00)
8. Hair shows, seminars, conference fees, accounting, payroll, tax prep
9. Insurance
10. Meals & Entertainment
11. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
12. Pay to staff, contractors or support
13. Supplies
14. Travel
15. Uniforms
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17 Overlooked IT/Computer Services Deductions

1. Accounting
2. Advertising
3. Cell Phones
4. Certifications
5. Continuing Education
6. Gifts to Clients (up to $25.00)
7. Hardware/Software
8. Insurance
9. Internet
10. Meals & Entertainment
11. Mileage/Gas (whichever is greater)
12. Office Expenses
13. Office Phone
14. Pay to contractors
15. Supplies
16. Tools
17. Travel Expense
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13 Overlooked Lawn Service Deductions

1. Accounting
2. Advertising
3. Business License
4. Equipment
5. Insurance
6. Laundry
7. Meals & Entertainment
8. Mileage/Gas (whichever one is greater)
9. Pay to Contractors
10. Protective Gear (special boots, jackets & coat, eyewear)
11. Supplies
12. Tools
13. Uniforms
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17 Overlooked Medical Doctor Deductions

1. Cell Phone
2. Certain Internet Costs
3. Certifications
4. Continuing Education
5. Dues for Professional Organizations
6. Equipment (Stethoscopes, etc.)
7. Insurance
8. Licenses
9. Medical Supplies
10. Mileage
11. Newsletters & Subscriptions
12. Office Lease, Rent
13. Pager (work)
14. Seminars & Conferences
15. Some Parking
16. Travel Expenses
17. Uniforms
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9 Overlooked Medical Doctors Deductions

1. Certain Internet Costs
2. Certifications
3. Continuing Education
4. Dues for Professional Organizations
5. Equipment (Stethoscopes, etc.)
6. Licenses
7. Newsletters & Subscriptions
8. Pager (work)
9. Seminars & Conferences
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7 Overlooked Military Personnel Deductions

1. Additional Ammo
2. Cell Phone
3. Certain Internet Costs
4. Dry cleaning
5. Parking
6. Supplies
7. Travel
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17 Overlooked Network Marketing Deductions

1. Accounting
2. Advertising
3. Cell Phones
4. Gifts to clients (up to $25.00)
5. Insurance
6. Mileage/Gas (whichever one is greater)
7. Networking Parties
8. Office lease, rent
9. Office Phones
10. Paid lunch, breakfast, dinner for potential clients
11. Rental Cars
12. Required Business Attire
13. Seminar/Conference Fees
14. Start up packages
15. Supplies
16. Travel Expenses
17. Utilize emails to clients
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12 Overlooked Nurses/Traveling Nurse Deductions

1. Cell Phones
2. Certifications
3. Continuing education or classes
4. Dues for Professional Organizations
5. Equipment (stethoscopes, etc.)
6. Gowns
7. Licenses
8. Newsletters & Subscriptions
9. Pagers
10. Seminars and Conferences
11. Shoes
12. Travel to multiple locations (clinics, hospitals)
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10 Overlooked Office (Home) Deductions Deductions

1. Home Office deductions only apply to business profits that are positive and unreimbursed employee expenses.
2. Home Repairs/Maintenance (office related)
3. Home/Renters Insurance
4. Office Repairs/Maintenance (paint, carpet, etc.)
5. Other Expenses (water, sewer, garbage, snow removal, lawn care, other)
6. Rent/Mortgage
7. Security System
8. Square Feet of Office
9. Total Sq. Feet of Home
10. Utilities
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49 Overlooked Personal Deductions

1. Alcohol and drug abuse treatment cost
2. Alimony paid (divorce agreements prior to 2018)
3. Business expenses including travel, meals, lodging and entertainment not reimbursed by employer
4. Business gifts up to $25 per customer or client
5. Casualty and theft losses in excess of $100 and totaling more than 10% of adjusted gross income
6. Cellular phones required for business
7. Cleaning and laundering services while traveling
8. Commission to brokers or agents for sale of property or property management
9. Cost of safe deposit box used for investments or business
10. Disabled individual’s work-related expenses
11. Dues to professional organizations (self-employed only)
12. Education expenses paid to maintain or improve job skills
13. Employee’s moving expenses (prior to 2018)
14. Equipment for disabled or handicapped individuals
15. Fees for tax preparation or advice (self-employed only)
16. Fees or commissions paid to employment agencies
17. Gambling losses to the extent of winning
18. Hearing aids, eyeglasses and contact lenses
19. Home office expenses, if primary place of business
20. Hospital fees for services such as nursing, physical therapy, lab tests and x-rays
21. Interest on student loans
22. Job-seeking expenses within present field of employment (prior to 2018)
23. Legal fees to collect taxable alimony (prior to 2018)
24. Mandatory contributions to state disability funds
25. Medical aids such as crutches, canes and orthopedic shoes
26. Medical transportation including tolls, parking, and standard mileage deductions for visiting doctors, dentists and picking up medicine
27. Mileage incurred in relation to charitable activities
28. New business start-up costs
29. Nursing home expenses
30. One-half of the self-employment tax paid
31. Out-of-pocket funds paid for school
32. Payment by December 31st of last quarter of estimated state taxes
33. Penalty on early withdrawal of savings
34. Personal property taxes on cars, boats, etc.
35. Points paid on mortgage or mortgage refinancing
36. Portion of life-care fees paid to retirement homes designated for medical care
37. Professional journals, magazines and newspapers that are job related (qualifying professions only and self employed, prior to 2018)
38. Property and Cash contributions to a recognized charity
39. Required uniforms and work clothes not suitable for street wear
40. Seeing-eye dog or guard dog for business
41. Services of a housekeeper, maid or cook needed to run your home while you work and for the benefit of a qualifying dependent
42. Special school costs for mentally or physically disabled individuals
43. State income taxes owed from a prior year and paid in the tax year
44. Support of a non-dependent student living with you
45. Taxes to a foreign government
46. Tools bought for use at your job (for qualifying professions only, prior 2018)
47. Union dues (for qualifying professions only, prior to 2018)
48. Wages for nursing services
49. Worthless stock or securities
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12 Overlooked Police Officers Deductions

1. Cell Phone
2. Certifications
3. Continuing Education
4. Dry Cleaning
5. Equipment (additional firearms, boots, vest)
6. If you have done some independent or private details, please go to our tax tips page and look under top business deductions
7. Internet
8. Licenses
9. Meals
10. Mileage
11. Seminar/Conferences
12. Supplies (ammunition, protect vest, cuffs)
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19 Overlooked Real Estate Agent/Loan Officer Deductions

1. Advertising
2. Answering service
3. Business Travel
4. Cell Phone
5. Client’s lunch/dinner
6. Commissions/Fees paid to brokers
7. Conference/Seminar Fees
8. Continuing education classes
9. Depreciation of vehicle
10. Dry Cleaning
11. Estimated Taxes
12. Gifts to clients (up to $25.00)
13. Lease payments (% of auto usage)
14. Mileage/Gas
15. Office space/rent/lease
16. Postage
17. Rental Car
18. Required business attire
19. Supplies: Lock Box, Signs, etc.
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5 Overlooked Rental Prop/Invest (Deductible Repairs) Deductions

1. Fixing broken windows & doors
2. Fixing Gutters & Downspouts
3. Repainting inside or out
4. Repairing leaky plumbing & replacing fixtures
5. Replastering Holes
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16 Overlooked Rental Property/Investment Deductions

1. *(Deductible Expenses)
2. *A Security deposit is not income if you are planning on returning it at the end of the lease. If you apply the deposit to the last month’s rent, it is considered income.
3. Advertising
4. Cleaning & Maintenance Fee
5. Credit Checks for tenants
6. Depreciation
7. Insurance
8. Legal or Professional
9. Management Fees
10. Mortgage Interest
11. Pest Control, lawncare & trash disposal
12. Property Taxes
13. Repairs, including labor cost
14. Supplies
15. Travel Expenses
16. Utilities
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10 Overlooked Teacher Deductions

1. Cable (if required by employer)
2. Cell Phone
3. Certifications
4. Classroom supplies
5. Continuing Education
6. Hardware/Software purchased for classroom or work reasons (computer, laptop, disks, copier, scanner)
7. Internet
8. Mileage/Gas related to work training
9. Newsletters & Subscriptions (profession related)
10. Seminar/Conferences
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8 Overlooked Truck Driver (Contractor) Deductions

1. Cell Phone
2. Communication Equipment
3. Fees paid to others
4. Fuel
5. Insurance
6. Repairs/Maintenance
7. Tools
8. Uniforms
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10 Overlooked Truck Driver (Owner Operator) Deductions

1. Advertising
2. Cell Phone
3. Depreciation
4. Fees paid to others
5. Fuel
6. Insurance
7. Lease Payments
8. Repair/Maintenance
9. Tools
10. Uniforms
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17 Overlooked Uber/Lyft Driver Deductions

1. Additional chargers for passengers
2. Advertising
3. Car detailing (cleaning)
4. Car washes
5. Cell Phone (including internet plans)
6. Commissions and Fees (including safe rider fees)
7. Depreciation
8. Lease payments
9. Maintenance and repairs
10. Mileage
11. Gasoline (including gasoline taxes)
12. Insurance
13. Oil and Oil Changes
14. Rental fee for an Uber phone
15. Supplies (Water, gum, snacks, etc.)
16. Tools
17. Vehicle Registration Fees
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