Tax Deductions

[NR133]

If any one is thinking of having there tax return done professionally, check out www.Tax4crews.com. Their specialty is flight crews and their prices are real reasonable. Union dues, uniform upkeep, insurance, Medicals/Eye care, Training, Moving expenses, cell phone, tips, per-diem, job search, phone calls on the road, etc. all deductable. You can request their tax organizer on the web site.

 

[bobbysamd]

Tax deductions

Excellent post. Don't forget, type ratings are tax-deductable. So are professional magazines and dues to professional aviation organizations. I dunno if AOPA qualifies as a regular deduction or charitable contribution.

 

[saabtrash]

I believe sex changes are legal to deduct also...as they will help "further" your career with UAL.

It's a joke people so don't get too bent out of shape.

 

[NR133]

Receipts

AOPA qualifies as a aviation organization. Also,FYI, you only need receipts for things and items over $75 per event. i.e., You could go to the dry cleaner 3 times a day if you want and if it cost you $65 per visit...you can deduct $195 for the day and you don't need a receipt. You just make a note of it, like in you're Red Book.

 

[ualORD]

Crash pad

Can I deduct my crash pad. Its in Chicago and I run it like a business, it's a lot work on the side!?

 

[bobbysamd]

Crash pad deduction

Although I have an accounting degree, did my own taxes for years and am familiar with many deductions, I am 99.999% certain you cannot deduct the crash pad. It boils down to the question of what qualifies as your primary residence.

Sorry . Maybe others might have more insight.

 

[browntail]

Hey Saabtrash don't apologize for the truth! You had me rolling around on the floor laughing my arse off!!!!

 

[NR133]

Crash Pad

bobbysamd,
you right! can't deduct crash pad. But I know a lot of people that do.
I also heard of people deducting there TV cable because they use it as a source for a weather brief.

 

[bobbysamd]

Crash pad and cable

Hope the folks who deduct the pad never get audited.

I'd opine the cable deduction is legit. Look at it this way. I used to know of many people who used to watch Aviation Weather on early morning PBS. I see no difference.

 

[NR133]

Standard Gov. Per-diem rate is $34 pd this year. $42 if you jump the pond.

 

[ualORD]

Thank You....

Thats good to know!

 

[NR133]

Also, for people that have interviews. Thats all deductable under job search. Travel there and back, hotel, cab, car rental, interview and sim-prep, any supplies, type rating, anything to do with the interview!

 

[jetdriven]

stardard per diem deduction rate varies depending on metro location. However..you must reduce that with the per diem you actually recieve, which means you can deduct the difference between what is paid and what is allowed. Also you can only deduct the cost of pilot supplies, job expenses etc that are above 2% of your adjusted gross income. Shieshines and shaving are allowable, cable tv maybe, crashpads and laptops/cellphones are not. just alil info I learned the hard way
=blue skies!

 

[NR133]

There is a little "IF" in the tax code. Which says "If an individual works in the transportation industry she/he may elect to take a standard per-diem." This year it's $34 I think. I'll look into it. But they let us do this because they know it's hard to keep track of all the different city's flight crews go to. So they give us this option, which in the long run works out to are advantage because alot of the city's are below this standard amount.

 

[StaySeated]

tax stuff

I have a question about the comment regarding 2% of your agi. Does that mean the total of all my expenses have to be more than 2%? Then can I deduct the total amount or just that over 2%? Probably two stupid questions but I am rather slow. One more...the perdiem. I expense perdiem while on union duty and some city's perdiem is as much as $44 a day. I was told this was the standard DOT amount. THe lowest I can remember while in a smaller city was $36.

 

[1900laker]

I have a question for some Tax saavy people?

Isn't it true that if you have a second business on the side that is not co-located with your first job/business, that the IRS will allow you to deduct travel expenses, etc. involved with the second business. I think it was explained to me one time that the IRS will consider one place or the other your primary Tax home, and usually that is the place where you are based as an airline pilot as long as that is your highest source of income.

For example Joe Schmoe is an airline pilot and has a dry-cleaning business on the side. Joe lives in Washington D.C. but commutes to Detroit where he is based at his airline. His drycleaning business in back in D.C.. Joe makes more working at the airline. Can Joe deduct travel/commuting expenses for his business back in D.C. since he can not deduct travel/crashpad/hotel expenses while he is in his tax home of Detroit?

Also, are the military reserves considered another job or business that you could conceivably deduct things like mileage to drive to your duty station?

Thanks

 

[ualORD]

The 2% question. Let's say, your total deduction on sch.A is $10,000. Your AGI is $50,000 .... 2% is $1,000. Subtract that from your $10,000. That gives you a $9,000 deduction.

 

[Stickshaker]

Saabtrash

That was to funny!
Thanks for the laugh.

 

[NR133]

Here is the standard meal allowance rule, from IRS-Publication 463,page 6:
Special rate for transportation workers: You can use a special standard rate meal allowance if you work in the transportation industry.....If this applies to you, you can claim a $38 a day standard meal allowance ($42 for travel outside the US). Using the special rate for transportation workers eliminates the need for you to determine the standard meal allowance for every area where you stop for sleep. If you choose to use the special rate for any trip, you must use the speacial rate (and not use the regular standard meal allowance rates) for all trips you take that year.