Hairstylist

[Gretel]

...and the attorney is NOT in the list of "substantial authority", which means a possible $1000 preparer penalty if you follow the advise of an attorney. If your client files her own return she might get away relying on her attorney's advise but you have to follow different standards.

[geekgirldany]

I wore my camoflauge shirt and shoes to the office today thinking no one would come by because I had no appointments scheduled. I was wrong. People saw me in this clothing. Not very professional. I looked like I was ready to go hunting. Can I take these clothes as a loss because I wasn't looking "professional"

[veritas]

here's my logic

I wore my Harley clothes today. Many of my clients ride Harley's.

Therefore my clothing is deductible.

[BHoffman]

I run a pretty informal place around here.

Sometimes I put shoes on but it's easier to maneuver around the sleeping dog and I make better time sprinting to the copier in bare feet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUOXgL4rvYk&feature=related

[erchess]

I am serious

Are you serious about the suits? My understanding is that no work clothes are deductible, which are suitable for everyday wear and that even a painter or wood floor worker can not deduct jeans worn on the job and ruined after the first use.

What you said is correct and I didn't say otherwise. I simply said there have been more court cases, revenue rulings and other authoritative statements about what constitutes a uniform (and is therefore deductible) than about when shoes and hairstyling costs are deductible.

[Lion]

Shoes?

Does she drop her scissors on her toes alot and have to wear steel-toed shoes for her own protection?! I say no to it all. Have her ask her attorney to write down the tax code cites that back up his advice.

[S T]

Zeros

I guess you are going to have to give your t/p the info and then she is going to have to choose whether you should be the one completing her tax return or her "so-called" Attorney!

Sandy

[BHoffman]

The only worse accountant than a lawyer is an engineer.

[veritas]

I think we should

The only worse accountant than a lawyer is an engineer.

cross breed them.

[geekgirldany]

The only worse accountant than a lawyer is an engineer.

Goodness you have that right. I have one that is a customer.

[RLymanC]

Food for Thought!!!!

The cost of hair styling and perms could be written of as advertising. She increases her business by modeling the different styles.

This argument held up in an audit years ago.

[BHoffman]

cross breed them.

I find engineers like to net everything. So, interbreeding would end up with a tax return showing only one number on the "taxable income" line....and it would be wrong.

[taxea]

"She increases her business by modeling the different styles."

But, does she? I wouldn't take it as any kind of expense unless she can prove to the IRS that her hairstyle changes on a consistant basis. And I think that is iffy. This is something that is not "ordinary and necessary" to her business. taxea

[Davc]

cross breed them.

Personally, I don't think lawyers should be allowed to breed at all.

[fliszt]

Guess I'm off base

I have a client who regularly performs as an opera singer which is his sole income. He must buy his own costumes which includes shoes, tux, shirt, ties, etc. etc. He must also LOOK neat, therefore his haircut on the day of each performance is written as an expense. IF he needed to be "tan" for a certain opera, I certainly would write that off as a deduction too.
There are a lot of other deductions that the average person would not be able to take, but this client can.
This is just my opinion.
Larry