Tired of your same old humdrum job? Then get out there andlook for a new one! It might even help you cut your tax bill.
Under certain circumstances, job-hunting expenses are taxdeductible.
First, your hunt for new work must be in the same field inwhich you're currently employed. Uncle Sam won't help out if you decideto totally switch career gears.
Second, you can't decide to chill out for a while and thenexpect the Internal Revenue Service to help when you decide it's timeto get back on the career track. Deductions aren't allowed foremployment-search costs when there is a "substantial break" betweenyour last job and when you began looking for a new one. Finally, recentgraduates are out of luck. The costs you incur in getting your firstjob aren't deductible.
But if you're a computer programmer and think you can get abetter deal from another high-tech company, start saving thosejob-search receipts. Some of the costs that are tax-deductible include:
- Employment and outplacement agency fees
- Resume services
- Printing and mailing costs of search letters
- Want-ad placement fees
- Telephone calls
- Travel expenses, including out-of-town job-hunting trips
Careful tracking of these expenses is critical because theyare classified as miscellaneous itemized deductions. You itemize themon line 20 of Schedule A.
