IRS help

[boiseball]

Okay guys, I need tax advise. In as much detail as you feel comfortable giving, how do you handle your referee income and deductions. Specifically, what expenses can you claim and how do you calculate them and keep track of them efficiently and accurately. I have not been doing a good enough job with this, and my day job has finally gotten to the point where I care a whole lot more. I appreciate your help with this. All tricks of the trade are welcome.

[mplagrow]

Track your mileage to and from games, I believe the current rate is 48 cents a mile. Any equipment (whistle, shirt, shoes) and association fees are deductible.

I remember having a discussion with somebody on this forum trying to sell that his gym membership kept him in shape for officiating. Thin ice if you ask me.

[zebraman]

Originally Posted by boiseball

Okay guys, I need tax advise. In as much detail as you feel comfortable giving, how do you handle your referee income and deductions. Specifically, what expenses can you claim and how do you calculate them and keep track of them efficiently and accurately. I have not been doing a good enough job with this, and my day job has finally gotten to the point where I care a whole lot more. I appreciate your help with this. All tricks of the trade are welcome.

I'm not accountant, but I have been told that expenses you can deduct with "no worries" are things that are directly related to your officiating. For instance, camp fees and uniforms etc. Gym memberships are not allowable because you might join the gym even if you didn't ref.

[AFHusker]

Originally Posted by boiseball

Okay guys, I need tax advise. In as much detail as you feel comfortable giving, how do you handle your referee income and deductions. Specifically, what expenses can you claim and how do you calculate them and keep track of them efficiently and accurately. I have not been doing a good enough job with this, and my day job has finally gotten to the point where I care a whole lot more. I appreciate your help with this. All tricks of the trade are welcome.

I keep a spreadsheet with all income and expenses. Along with the other deductible items already mentioned I believe you can claim liability insurance.

[Eastshire]

As far as uniforms go you should be able to deduct your striped shirt. Your pants and shoes most likely are not deductable. Deductions for uniforms are only allowed if the uniform cannot be worn for any other purpose. Since the shirt really can't be worn for any other purpose, you can deduct it. However, black pants and black shoes can be worn for non-business purposes and are not deductible.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

I respectfully disagree. My patent leathers are used exclusively for refereeing, and I'm deducting them. Same with those awful polyester beltless pants.

On a side note. The Mileage rate just went to 48.5 cents per mile on January 1. During 2006, the rate was 44.5 cents per mile.

[Eastshire]

Originally Posted by Whistles & Stripes

I respectfully disagree. My patent leathers are used exclusively for refereeing, and I'm deducting them. Same with those awful polyester beltless pants.

On a side note. The Mileage rate just went to 48.5 cents per mile on January 1. During 2006, the rate was 44.5 cents per mile.

Hey, feel free to disagree. I'm just an accountant.

2007 U.S. Master Tax Guide by CCH Publishing (The tax bible as far as many accountant's are concerned) "The cost and upkeep of a uniform, including laundering and cleaning, are deductible only if the uniform is required as a condition of employment and is not adaptable to general wear."

The pants may be ugly but I'd lay odds that the IRS will find them to be adaptable to general wear. It's not how you use it; it's how it can be used.

[jeffpea]

I've been told by several people (and maybe even seen an article in Referee Magazine) that your mileage from work to the game site CANNOT be deducted, but the mileage from the game site to your home CAN be deducted. Either way, I would definitely check w/ an tax accountant as some of the suggestions listed previously seem to be liberal interpretations (from what I know) of the allowable deductions.....

[BillyMac]

My accountant keeps it real simple. I give him the following information: total income from officiating, mileage for all games, scrimmages, meetings, clinics, and camps, cost of postage, cost of uniforms and equipment, cost of board membership, fees, and fines, cost of camps and clinics attended, additonal insurance not provided by our local board, and finally he allows me $5.00 per week for laundry.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

Hey, feel free to disagree. I'm just an accountant.

2007 U.S. Master Tax Guide by CCH Publishing (The tax bible as far as many accountant's are concerned) "The cost and upkeep of a uniform, including laundering and cleaning, are deductible only if the uniform is required as a condition of employment and is not adaptable to general wear."

The pants may be ugly but I'd lay odds that the IRS will find them to be adaptable to general wear. It's not how you use it; it's how it can be used.

As a fellow accountant, CPA even, I'm deducting the whole uniform.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

Hey, feel free to disagree. I'm just an accountant.

2007 U.S. Master Tax Guide by CCH Publishing (The tax bible as far as many accountant's are concerned) "The cost and upkeep of a uniform, including laundering and cleaning, are deductible only if the uniform is required as a condition of employment and is not adaptable to general wear."

The pants may be ugly but I'd lay odds that the IRS will find them to be adaptable to general wear. It's not how you use it; it's how it can be used.

If I get audited over this, I'll make sure to show them my pleated black Sansabelt pants and my patent leather sneakers and ask them if they'd wear them out anywhere.

[ToGreySt]

Originally Posted by Eastshire

As far as uniforms go you should be able to deduct your striped shirt. Your pants and shoes most likely are not deductable. Deductions for uniforms are only allowed if the uniform cannot be worn for any other purpose. Since the shirt really can't be worn for any other purpose, you can deduct it. However, black pants and black shoes can be worn for non-business purposes and are not deductible.

where I'm gonna wear my black patent "leather" (read as PLASTIC) sneakers is a mystery to me

[GonetoRef]

How about deducting a navigation device??? Some of the places I'm sent to is off the beaten track and a GPS is necessary to find the schools.

[Damian]

If you go straight milage, I would say you cannot deduct your GPS. However, if you calculate your deduction as a percentage of your vehicle (15% of all miles go to ref games and camps), then all vehicle costs are deductible using that percentage. You get a better deal using straight mileage. The reason its so high is to incorporate repairs, tires, gas, and things like a gps.

[WhistlesAndStripes]

Originally Posted by GonetoRef

How about deducting a navigation device??? Some of the places I'm sent to is off the beaten track and a GPS is necessary to find the schools.

This one is a bit of a stretch in my book.