Most outrageous tax deductions IAG

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Determining tax deductions can be complex for clients and advisors alike. The Minnesota Society of CPAs recently surveyed its members about the most outrageous tax deductions clients tried to claim on their tax returns.

"Creativity is a beautiful trait to embrace, but there are better places to exercise yours than with your CPA and the IRS," says MNCPA Board Chair Jeff White. "Tax laws are very nuanced, but many of the deductions our members shared from their clients would create issues with the IRS."

The following list shows that, quite often, taxpayers don't know which deductions are allowed or not. Here is the MNCPA's annual list of the most outrageous, and unacceptable, deductions.
Tummy tuck
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1. Tummy tuck

One client wanted to deduct an abdominoplasty — more commonly known as a tummy tuck — as a medical expense because of the amount of money she had to spend on the procedure. No dice.
Dream home
Loving young couple looking at dream house.
Picasa/REDPIXEL - stock.adobe.com

2. Building your dream home

As a contractor, one client talked to their CPA about writing off the cost of building themselves a new house. That one didn't get off the ground.
Solo lunch
Smiling modern young man speaking on the phone
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3. All by myself (for lunch)

One client tried to claim mileage for 25 roundtrips to a restaurant for lunch with himself.
Family vacation
happy father and son playing driving wheel video game in playground theme park
/.shock - stock.adobe.com

4. Working vacation?

One client tried to deduct expenses for a family vacation to Disney because he "was working the whole time." Let's hope Disney hired him.
Pontoon boat
retired mature men driving a pontoon boat on a lake at daytime
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5. Boats (again)

A nearly annual addition to this list, one client wanted to deduct his pontoon as an advertising expense because he occasionally took out clients for a cruise.
Mexican dentists
latin dentist sign in mexico
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6. Dental work across the border

This one is a doozy. One CPA had a client who flew to Mexico — multiple times — for dental work and, in their infinite wisdom, thought they could extract the difference via deductions.
Swimming pool maintenance
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7. Pools don't make good offices

Repairs and maintenance to an in-ground pool, as one client found out, cannot be used as a home office deduction.
giving cash from wallet
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8. Stretching charity

While helping out family members with monetary gifts is kind, it is, however, not legally classified as charitable donations.
Fur coat window
A woman wearing a fur, with a purple suitcase, ready to start for a business travel, moves the curtain aside to look trough the window if the taxi is coming
Alain de Maximy/Maxal Tamor - stock.adobe.com

9. High-class cleaning

This is a new one. One CPA had a client who wanted to deduct the cost of her fur coat because she wore it to keep warm as she cleaned homes.
football fans watching game on TV
Three adult guys in anticipation of next score
/gpointstudio - stock.adobe.com

10. Super Bowl gambling loss: $2

That's not a misprint. One client wanted to file for a gambling loss on a $2 bet on the Super Bowl. While gambling losses can be deducted by following instructions from the IRS, $2 leaves a bit to be desired. Better luck next year.
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