question on writing off tools for income tax

[drftkng951]

So my tax lady never let's me write off my tools, she states it has to exceed $5k. This year I went somewhere else to ask bout writing them off, and they said I could as long as its over 2% of my income. Also, I could claim the tools I haven't from previous years. I spent about 2,600 this year and probably 5k total. Any advice?

[imnatelol]

Are you going to school? Some places write it off as school expense. My tax guy wouldn't do that but my buddy was able to do it with his.

[TougeLove]

the state gives you 5400 in write offs (kinda) if you can write off more than that, do so. if not, it wont make a dent in your refund.

I am not a tax expert, hopefully this is still correct or somewhat.

I could never write off my miles because it was only like $4,000. it was only worth it when i was writing off $6000+ you pay an extra fee for itemizing and its no longer a cheap thing. you also need proof of the write offs, receipts, proof of use, etc.

[bc.]

I don't know CA's tax laws, but I thought you could only write off stuff like that if it was used for your work.

[TougeLove]

do we know if he uses his tools for work? I guess he would have stated that if it was the case. hmmmmm good point.

[airsoft]

If it is directly related to your "business" (1099/self employed/not an employee of a company) then yes as an expense.

As for "write-offs" as stated above, if it doesn't directly relate to your "business" there are certain things you can write off. For instance some sort of medical shit, home owners shit... etc.

I do volunteer Mountain Search and Rescue through a non profit. I have to buy my own gear and pay my own gas etc. This amount did not exceed the "standard deduction" so its better off to use the standard deduction. If your qualified "write offs" are more, then you better document the shit out of it and use that.

[bc.]

If it is directly related to your "business" (1099/self employed/not an employee of a company) then yes as an expense.

As for "write-offs" as stated above, if it doesn't directly relate to your "business" there are certain things you can write off. For instance some sort of medical shit, home owners shit... etc.

I do volunteer Mountain Search and Rescue through a non profit. I have to buy my own gear and pay my own gas etc. This amount did not exceed the "standard deduction" so its better off to use the standard deduction. If your qualified "write offs" are more, then you better document the shit out of it and use that.
Yeah, tools to work on your weekend car for fun are not something I can imagine you get tax exemptions for. If that were the case you could probably write off all the parts and the cost of the car as well :P

Even for a truck or something you use in your search and rescue probably cannot be written off. But like you said, stuff you use directly for the job is, mileage or gas and gear, etc.