Is make-up a business deduction

[Bonnie]

Client works as a massage therapist at Merle Norman and they require her to wear their makeup to work. Otherwise she does not wear makeup at all. Would the makeup she wears to work be considered an employee business expense?? Just wondering what everyone else thinks??

Thanks
Bonnie

[thomtax]

Work clothes

Would this not fit into the same category as work clothes? And aren't, in order to be written off, work clothes supposed to be not suitable for everyday use?

LT

[Uncle Sam]

Makeup-A Business Deduction

"they require her to wear their makeup to work"

That sounds to me like a legitimate employee business expense - no different than a person who must wear a uniform to perform duties of his/her employment and incurs expenses to maintain the uniform in workable, usable, appropriate condition.

[Bird Legs]

What Happens

if that client is wearing the makeup & perfume etc. and she is working on a client
that is highly sensitive to makeup & perfumes?
As previous poster mentioned, is the makeup suitable for street use? If so, I would
say no.

[Possi]

street use?

I've seen women in makeup not suitable for street use... then again, some wear makeup ONLY good for "street" use... depends on where the emphasis falls...

Seriously, I have a client who works for a popular lingerie store who requires that she dress and make up like quite the "hooch." Thank goodness she didn't itemize...

I have no answer, but couldn't resist.

~possi

[jainen]

Warning:

>>no different than a person who must wear a uniform<<

Warning: cheap shot ahead.

With a name like Uncle Sam, you should know the difference between a woman in uniform and a woman wearing makeup!

[Brad Imsdahl]

I read a case once where the shirt was deductible as a uniform because the company name and logo was on the shirt, but the matching pants were not deductible because there was no such name or logo on the pants.

Maybe this person can put on the makeup and draw the company name and logo on her forehead with the eye liner, the way some women who have none have to draw on eyebrows.

[jainen]

A good place

>>put on the makeup and draw the company name and logo on her forehead<<

A good place to put the logo would be on her nose ring or an eyebrow stud. Then if everyone in the place uses the same distinctive lipstick you could make the case for a uniform.

[BP.]

>>same distinctive lipstick<< Merle's Masseuse Mauve?

[Matt Sova]

Too funny

Maybe this person can put on the makeup and draw the company name and logo on her forehead with the eye liner, the way some women who have none have to draw on eyebrows.

No answer, but I have to tell you a story about drawn on eyebrows.

We were in FL at the beginning of December and we went to dinner at a pretty nice restaurant. Our waitress had plucked, shaved or waxed her eyebrows then drew in new ones about 3/4" ABOVE where they were supposed to be. That was one freaky looking chick. She was an excellent waitress, but I did not have enough Captain in me to ask what the deal was with her eyebrows.

[Brian EA]

No answer, but I have to tell you a story about drawn on eyebrows.

We were in FL at the beginning of December and we went to dinner at a pretty nice restaurant. Our waitress had plucked, shaved or waxed her eyebrows then drew in new ones about 3/4" ABOVE where they were supposed to be. That was one freaky looking chick. She was an excellent waitress, but I did not have enough Captain in me to ask what the deal was with her eyebrows.

Are you sure it was in FL Matt?

[KJ Judd]

I thnk you need to explain the situation to the client and have them decide on a gray area. I tend to think this is a personal expense. However, maybe she could get Merle Norman to provide her with the cosmetics for her use.

[ChEAr$]

I've gotta agree with you

I thnk you need to explain the situation to the client and have them decide on a gray area. I tend to think this is a personal expense. However, maybe she could get Merle Norman to provide her with the cosmetics for her use.

this is a personal expense, no matter what she might look like "before and after".

And any analogies to "uniforms" just don't fit.

On the other hand, those short shorts Hooters' girls wear (or so I'm told).....
just might qualify.

[skhyatt]

I don't believe this is even a gray area....personal expense.

[New York Enrolled Agent]

An attempt to paraphrase - "Client works as a massage therapist at Merle Norman and they require her to wear clothing to work. Otherwise she does not wear clothing at all( she is a nudist). Would the clothing she wears to work be considered an employee business expense?? "

Skyhatt and others are absolutely correct - personal expense. Don't even think of deducting it!!!