Immigration expenses

[WI guy]

I have a client that married a Mexican citizen early in 2005. She and her three children moved to Wisconsin and live with the client. He treats that children as his own. He incurred many costs in making these Mexican citizens permanent residents of the United States. They have a Social Security card and a permanent residency card. I was wondering if any of the expenses were deductible.

Any help would be appreciated.

WI guy

[Brian EA]

I have a client that married a Mexican citizen early in 2005. She and her three children moved to Wisconsin and live with the client. He treats that children as his own. He incurred many costs in making these Mexican citizens permanent residents of the United States. They have a Social Security card and a permanent residency card. I was wondering if any of the expenses were deductible.

Any help would be appreciated.

WI guy

No Way Jose

[Bees Knees]

Other than the personal exemption amounts for his wife and dependents, there is no deduction for helping someone to become a citizen or resident of the U.S.

[veritas]

Why on earth would we want legal immigrants to deduct their expenses of legally entering our country? We wouldn't have anything left to give the illegal ones.

[veritas]

No Way Jose

Good one Brian! lol

[Chief]

Legal Expenses

We helped our son-in-law from Mexico come to this country. All kinds of legal, travel, and government expenses from both countries. Not once did we entertain the notion that these expenses could be deducted on our federal income tax return. There are many things we do some of which can be used as deduction s and some that cannot. When we buy Girl Scout cookies, give $20 in cash to a charitable cause, or buy a restaurant meal for a homeless person, we do not think of itemized deductions but enjoy the feeling that we have helped someone less fortunate. To us that is the essence of expressing our Christian faith.

[WI guy]

Thanks everyone. I didn't think anything was deductible, but the client asked and I said I would find it out for sure. I didn't see anything in The Tax Book, so I tried here.

Thanks again,

WI guy