Can expenses for unpaid invoices for services be deducted on taxes?

Question

The services themselves cannot be deducted for a cash business, but can expenditures in performing the services be deducted?

for clarity: I provided software consulting services to a company that hasn't paid me.

Answer 1

Yes, the expenditures can be deducted;better have good records.
If invoices, and I hope this isn't true, aren't collected--you might have a "bad money," deduction; again, keep all records of attempts to collect etc.
Your question was not real clear. I thought at first you meant you wanted to deduct for services you'd not paid for yet.
Double check w/a tax advisor; that too is deductible along w/the gas going and coming!
Let me know how it worked out.

Answer 2

If you claimed the invoices as income, then yes you can deduct them if you didn't get paid. If they were never claimed as income, then no you can't.