Ask The taxgirl: Cheerleading Expenses

Taxpayer asks:

Hi,

I am a stay-at-home from California and I have a daughter in Cheerleading. Can I deduct the expenses? She also attends a public school that requires uniforms – why can I not deduct those?

Thank you so much,

Taxgirl says:

Nope, you can’t deduct the costs associated with your daughter’s cheerleading (unless this was professional cheerleading, which I am guessing it is not). It stinks, I know – I have three kids myself and they are always needing money for this thing or the next. But not deductible, just the cost of raising a child which the feds make an effort to address through personal exemptions and child-related tax credits.

And nope, the cost of uniforms for public or private school is not deductible. Again, I feel your pain: two of my kids are in Philadelphia public school and have to wear school uniforms. But check out this post for some additional thoughts about reducing your costs. That said, be sure and check your state rules. In some states, like Louisiana, you can deduct the costs of school uniforms under certain circumstances.