Maybe You Can’t Deduct Nose Jobs & Sex Toys From Your Taxes, But Someone Can

One of the only entertaining things about tax season has to be the crazy deductions. Because honestly, what other joy can be reaped from this most dreaded of days? Well, besides a refund, if you get one. While you might not be able to write off a nose job or your excessive sweating as tax deductions, somewhere out there, someone can. We salute you, crazy deduction-takers.

Last year around this time we noted a few oddball deductions, and this year CNNMoney has even more maybe-it’ll-work, maybe-it-won’t plans from taxpayers in all walks of life. We’ve rounded up a few below, check out their complete list for more head-scratchers.

Air conditioning:Who doesn’t like a nice cool home in the hot summer months? We all do, but not everyone can deduct air conditioning from their taxes. One CPA had a client who was able to write off the cost of more than $10,000 in central AC for his house and cottage. He had the medical backup to carry off such a feat, however — a note from his doctor regarding a condition that causes excessive sweating.

Nose job: Many a taxpayer likely indulges in self-improvement, but it’s a rarity for procedures that could be seen as cosmetic changes to be tax deductible. The owner of a wine store and wine bar in California wrote off his nose job as a business expense, all because he was having issues with his sense of smell. He argued that he had to smell things for his job, as he goes on buying trips to Europe to pick out the best wines. He was able to get it written off with a doctor’s note that prescribed the nose job.

Sexy tools of the trade: There are certain professions which require a set of special skills and tools, and one exotic dancer was able to include her webcam business in that special category. Her CPA says she wrote off $200 in vibrators, lubricants and lingerie as a business expense involved in her video work.

“If a roofer can deduct the cost of his tools used in his line of work, then an ‘actress’ may deduct her ‘tools’ used to generate revenue as well,” he said. “As long as she was not doing anything illegal, then we could support the deduction.”

A whole lot of fish: One man deducted hundreds of pounds of tuna from his taxes, as he takes fishing vacations every year and donates the extra fish to a local cannery. That cannery then gives proceeds from the sale of the fish to a religious institution, which allows for the man to claim the value of all that fish as a charitable deduction. His deductions would often add up to several thousand dollars. Hey, it’s the giving back part that counts, doesn’t matter if it’s money or of the swimming variety.

Now’s a good time to issue a reminder — your taxes are due today so you should be filing those pretty darn soon.

Crazy tax deductions [CNNMoney]

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