Tax Deductions (uniforms)

[wheelsup]

Quick question - I've already sent my taxes away to a company specializing in taxes for pilots. They had a handy worksheet that allowed me to put all my deductions down. I'm not sure if I'll hit the standard deduction this year (depending on the per diem overage stuff) but on the worksheet it had a spot for "uniform home laundering".

I was told by a CA once that he used the regular dry cleaning costs to figure in doing his uniform specific laundry at home. No IRS publication that *I* can find deals with this deduction, or how to figure your laundry costs at home. It just says you can deduct "dry cleaning and laundry".

Any ideas (without drawing unneeded attention, but maximizing the deduction) for next years return?

[kellwolf]

Save receipts for Dryel?

The odds of you getting audited b/c you decided you spent $1 per shirt on cleaning them yourself are pretty slim, though.

[PGT]

Although not aviation related, I got a friend who does this with his work shirts and suits.

[ComplexHiAv8r]

The question is WHERE does it go on the taxes? Does it have to go under the "unreimbursed" business that requires 2% of gross first before deductions?

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

The question is WHERE does it go on the taxes? Does it have to go under the "unreimbursed" business that requires 2% of gross first before deductions?

I believe so yes, but I'm not doing my taxes personally so I'm not sure.

Really what I was looking for was number of shirts used X $1.50, number of pants used X $3.00, etc.

So for each day on a trip you'd use 1 shirt and 1/2 pair of pants.

Example - say for a 4-day, you'd use 4 shirts and 2 pairs of pants. So you'd write off $12 per 4-day, $10.50 for a 3-day, $6 for a 2-day and $4.50 for a day trip. Of course, while doing it, you'd make a note in your expense book.

But I was essentially looking for what people use as a money figure if they don't dry clean their clothes all the time.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by ComplexHiAv8r

The question is WHERE does it go on the taxes? Does it have to go under the "unreimbursed" business that requires 2% of gross first before deductions?

Well, you're only looking at around $360-500 before you hit that 2% for a first year FO. That would pretty much be a PNS bag and a flight kit.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

Well, you're only looking at around $360-500 before you hit that 2% for a first year FO. That would pretty much be a PNS bag and a flight kit.

Right, but (and my tax sense is extremely limited) I believe the standard deduction with 1 exemption is $8450 or so this year so a single filer would have to itemize at least that amount with all their individual deductions (tips, laundry, uniform expenses, mortgage interest, moving expenses, per diem differences, state income tax, etc.). If you are writing off over $8450 as a single filer with no home loan the IRS *might* be looking at your return . Especially when my W2 showed such a small amount last year. You're talking writing off 1/3 of your annual pre-tax income...

I was only able to come up with only $5,700 in itemized deductions this year, so I *think* it's better to take the standard $5,150 standard + $3,300 exemption = $8,450 deduction. But that's what the tax people are for.

Now, if those un-reimbursed business expenses come with you taking the standard deduction as well, then it would be worth it. But I don't think they do.

[Minnesota_Flyer]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

I was only able to come up with only $5,700 in itemized deductions this year, so I *think* it's better to take the standard $5,150 standard + $3,300 exemption = $8,450 deduction. But that's what the tax people are for.

You get the personal exemption whether you itemize or not.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by Minnesota_Flyer

You get the personal exemption whether you itemize or not.

Ah excellent! I had hoped you'd jump in to the discussion . Thanks for the info. I got that "info" from the company forum, and thought it sounded a bit fishy.

[kellwolf]

I used TurboTax this year, and I ALMOST beat the standard deduction via itemizing. Granted, I have a home loan, student loans and a wife and kid that both landed in the emergency room last year to go along with my business deductions.....