what can I claim as a deduction?

Question

Can I claim travel expenses for an job interview? Can I do so even though I also visited some friends while in that city?

Answer 1

The Primary purpose of the trip has to be looking for a job. "Primary" is NOT determined by who much time is spent looking for a job, but what the original intent was for the trip.

Example 1: you take a one week trip to visit a potential employer and have an interview and land the job on the first day. You then spend the rest of the week sightseeing. The travel expenses and one night of the hotel and expenses would be deductible as job hunting expenses (if otherwise qualified)

Example 2: You take a two week vacation. While there, you see an ad for a position in your field. You spend seven week days of your two weeks in interviews for this position. You cannot deduct the travel expenses as the primary purpose of the trip was vacation. You can deduct the expenses associated with the interviews (i.e. transportation for those days, resume, etc. but not travel or hotel)

As stated by others, the employment you are seeking has to be in your current occupation and cannot be your first job.

Answer 2

Yes, you may be able to deduct travel expenses for a job interview, but only under certain conditions. You have to be looking for a job in your current occupation. You cannot deduct expenses if you are looking for a new occupation. Also, the trip has to be primarily for the purpose of looking for a job. "Primarily" is measured by the amount of time spent looking for a job compared to the amount of time spent on personal purposes.

You have to itemize your deductions to qualify. Job search expenses are part of miscellaneous deductions that are subject to a 2% floor. That means that the total miscellaneous expenses are deductible only if they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income.

There are many types of potential deductions and many rules on what qualifies. It's far too long and complicated to answer here. For more information, see IRS Publication 17 which is available at www.irs.gov.

Answer 3

If you aren't a dependent, you can claim an exemption of $3400 for yourself.

You can claim a standard deduction for yourself.

You don't give enough info for anyone to make any other suggestions.

Answer 4

Whatever you're entitled to...but you'll have to beat the standard deduction in order to itemize.