Article: Tax return preparation costs are "above-the-line" deductions. (Client Report)

Any amount paid by an individual for preparing the business portion of income tax returns and resolving tax deficiencies for a sole proprietorship, including litigation expenses, can be deducted as business expenses.

Although it is common practice for preparers to list their fees as business expenses of the client's sole proprietorship, the IRS recently had taken a hard line regarding deduction of expenses for return preparation and tax advice. A new ruling reversed that position.

In the ruling, an individual ran a consulting business as a sole proprietorship. She paid a tax return preparer $500 to prepare her Form 1040. $200 of the fee was allocable to ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!