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Tax Book Giveaway

It’s a giveaway! The folks at J.K. Lasser have donated two copies of their book, J.K. Lasser’s Your Income Tax 2011: For Preparing Your 2010 Tax Return. I’m giving one away on Facebook and one on the blog.

To enter to win on the blog, all you have to do is answer this question by posting a comment below:

Personal expenses are never deductible on your federal income tax return. However, if you could deduct a personal expense (primary landline, trips to the spa, the cost of your over the counter Motrin, etc.), what would you deduct?

Of course, there are rules. I’m an attorney, remember? Here they are:

  • Post your answer in the comments section below. I love my Twitter followers (muah!) but for this particular giveaway, tweets will not be counted. Ditto for Facebook; there’s a separate contest on Facebook (and never the twain shall meet).
  • For purposes of the giveaway, your comment must be entered (even if it doesn’t show up) by the end of the day on March 23, 2011, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
  • Don’t panic if your comment doesn’t show immediately. If it goes to moderation because, for example, you’re new here, the time stamp on your comment is what counts.
  • Enter as many times as you’d like but you must leave a different comment each time. My normal comment policy applies. I have standards, you know.
  • You must leave a valid email address (it will not be made public) with your comment so that I can contact you if you are a winner.
  • I’ll choose one winner at random using a random number generator.
  • Pingbacks and trackbacks, while appreciated, won’t count for purposes of the giveaway.
  • U.S. residents, only, please.

Let’s play!

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Kelly Phillips Erb
Kelly Phillips Erb, known as Taxgirl, is a tax attorney, writer, and speaker who explains tax news, IRS updates, scams, financial crime, and money in plain English.

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33 Comments

  1. I would say home rent expense. Renters don’t get to deduct while those who pay a mortgage do, its only right that renters get some relief so they can save up for a downpayment for a house.

  2. I would deduct my biggest personal expense! Personal education expenses (information products which teach me specific skills).

  3. Hobby-loss expenses. I’m a scratch bowler — technically, a pro, but only in the sense that I spend a lot of money entering tournaments and occasionally win some of it back! I’d like to be able to deduct my costs, even though there’s no (reasonable) expectation of profit.

  4. Preparing tax returns is stressful. I would allow the cost of spa visits and go often!

  5. Definitely diapers and wipes ….. sheesh! I think those two items cost me more than daycare or any other expenditure I have!

  6. If you are asking what might be a reasonable idea for an allowable deduction, then I would say the cost of going to work – that is, your automobile and its expenses. Warren Buffet is on his jet going around the world doing business. You know that jet and its costs are deductible as a business expense. Well, the rest of us “jet” to work in our Toyotas and Hondas and we ought to be able to deduct that cost.

  7. The cost of US MADE clothing purchases. Perhaps this would help to boost the US economy as supply and demand would help create jobs!

  8. All costs of purchasing and maintaining personal health insurance coverage — no matter the circumstance– medicare, employee vs. self-employment, premiums, co-pays, etc.

  9. The cost of work clothing (i.e. suits) and their cleaning costs. If I didn’t need them for work, I would have that expense.

  10. The cost of going to law school. Give me a deduction or better yet, a credit, over ten or fifteen years, to help me pay back those student loans. That $2,500.oo student loan interest deduction each year just is not cutting it.

  11. Massages…..I fell less stressed after I get a massage. If I could deduct these I would get them more often and be less stressed…at least that’s my theory 🙂

  12. Massages…..I feel less stressed after I get a massage. If I could deduct these I would get them more often and be less stressed…at least that’s my theory 🙂

  13. Technological gadgets — Laptop, IPAD, Smart Phone — and all the costs associated with them — high speed internet, WiFi connections, software, etc — including the people costs to teach me how to use them…

  14. I would deduct all food costs. This would be a nightmare to audit, but you asked.

  15. I would like to deduct the cost of food. Food is a social occasion and I love to cook. Other than doing volunteer income taxes, cooking is my favorite hobby. Lets do lunch and talk taxes!
    Thanks for the wonderful blog.

  16. My cat’s living expenses, cat food, nightly treat, cat treats, vet bills, cat trees, cat toys, etc…..especially since she lets me live in her house!!! And if that wouldn’t pass, then I’d put her in as a medical expense for watching over me during my recent surgeries (as a nurse of course!!)

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