In an old sitcom, the lead character tried to deduct a Thanksgiving turkey when she couldn’t afford her taxes. While that might seem like a stretch, you might be surprised at some of the things taxpayers submit as deductions to the IRS.
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Even though the IRS maintains easy-to-access lists of common acceptable deductions, there can be times when it might seem like something is missing.
“Tax season always reminds us that some write-offs are too good to be true, even if they feel work-related,” said Chris Heerlein, CEO of REAP Financial. “We always get asked about deductions that sound great in theory but don’t hold up in an audit.”
“No, your Peloton doesn’t qualify as office furniture, even if it supports your work-life balance,” Heerlein said. “These may feel like part of the job, but the IRS sticks to strict rules.”
Filip Telibasa, a certified financial planner with Benzina Wealth, said gym memberships to reduce sick days from work are also not tax deductible.
“The IRS says your spin class is a personal expense, even if it makes you more productive at work,” Telibasa said.
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You might be surprised that your fellow taxpayers try to deduct those morning drinks.
“I can’t tell you how many of my clients try to write off their daily Starbucks runs as business expenses,” said Andrew Lokenauth, a money and finance expert. “Listen, I get it, that $7 oat milk latte feels essential to function at work. But the IRS doesn’t care about our caffeine addictions.”
Sticking with food, you may be thinking that meal prep services are deductible, since time is money, Telibasa said.
“Unfortunately, convenience is not a deduction category,” he added.
Lokenauth said, “So here’s something frustrating. Even if you’re watching documentaries or industry-related content, streaming services aren’t tax-deductible.”
Lokenauth and Telibasa each pointed out that pet “office assistants,” even if they’re used for emotional support while doing work calls for home, are probably not deductible.
One exception may be if you have a certified service animal.
“I’ve had multiple clients try to deduct their dogs as office security or emotional support animals,” Lokenauth said. “And while my golden retriever might be the best coworker ever, pet expenses aren’t deductible unless they’re legitimate service animals or actual working animals like guard dogs.”
