Medical
- Health insurance premiums (for self-employed people, 100 percent deductible from gross income)
- Transportation expenses for trips to medical facilities or doctors’ offices
- Nursing home medical expenses
- Crutches, orthopedic shoes, etc.
- Hearing aids, eyeglasses, contact lenses
- Equipment for disabled individuals •
- Alcohol- and drug-abuse programs and some stop-smoking treatments
- Nurses’ fees
From Real Simple: Money-Saving Secrets from the Pros
Business
- Education expenses to maintain or improve job skills
- Job-related professional journals and newspapers
- Required uniforms
- Union dues
- Employment agency fees or commissions
- Home office expenses (if you work from home)
- Expenses for job-seeking in your current field
- Reservist and National Guard overnight-travel expenses
- Cleaning and laundering services while traveling for business
- Cell phones required for business
Home
- Commissions for the sale of your home, or rental management if you rent it out
- Moving expenses
- Personal property taxes on cars, boats, etc.
- Casualty and theft losses
- Housekeeping or other home services needed for a qualifying dependent during your work hours
From Real Simple: 10 Ways to Spend Smarter
Charitable
- Donated clothing or other goods; note the estimated value (see “Valuation Guide” at goodwillpromo.org) on the receipt
- Mileage incurred while performing charitable activities
- Cost of meals, accommodations, public transportation, and gas when volunteer work sends you far from home—if you pay for them out of your own pocket
Educational
- Hope and Lifetime Learning credits (a type of federal financial aid for college tuition that gives tax credit instead of tuition payment)
- Student loan interest
From Real Simple: Cut Your Energy Costs
Finances
- Investment-related expenses
- Refinancing points on a mortgage
- Accounting or legal fees involved with taxes
- Cost of safe deposit box used for investments or business
- Penalty on early withdrawal of savings
- Alimony
Other
- Care provided for disabled children or spouse (Child and Dependent Care Credit)
- Clean fuel credit for purchase of hybrid car
- Jury duty pay reimbursed to employer
- Some gambling losses
More from Real Simple:
11 Money-Etiquette Issues, Solved
How to Save Up to $3000 a Year
