Schedule A Help

Part I - Medical and Dental Expenses

You can deduct only the part of your medical and dental expenses that exceeds 10% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38. However, if either you or your spouse was born before January 2, 1950, you can deduct the part of your medical and dental expenses that exceeds 7.5% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38.

Pub. 502 discusses the types of expenses you can and cannot deduct. It also explains when you can deduct capital expenses and special care expenses for disabled persons.

CAUTION: If you received a distribution from a health savings account or a medical savings account in 2014, see Pub. 969 to figure your deduction.

Examples of Medical and Dental Payments You Can Deduct
To the extent you were not reimbursed, you can deduct what you paid for:

  • Insurance premiums for medical and dental care, including premiums for qualified long-term care contracts as defined in Pub. 502. But see Limit on long-term care premiums you can deduct. Reduce the insurance premiums by any self-employed health insurance deduction you claimed on Form 1040, line 29. You cannot deduct insurance premiums paid with pretax dollars because the premiums are not included in box 1 of your Form(s) W-2. If you are a retired public safety officer, you cannot deduct any premiums you paid to the extent they were paid for with a tax-free distribution from your retirement plan.

  • Prescription medicines or insulin.

  • Acupuncturists, chiropractors, dentists, eye doctors, medical doctors, occupational therapists, osteopathic doctors, physical therapists, podiatrists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts (medical care only), and psychologists.

  • Medical examinations, X-ray and laboratory services, insulin treatment, and whirlpool baths your doctor ordered.

  • Diagnostic tests, such as a full-body scan, pregnancy test, or blood sugar test kit.

  • Nursing help (including your share of the employment taxes paid). If you paid someone to do both nursing and housework, you can deduct only the cost of the nursing help.

  • Hospital care (including meals and lodging), clinic costs, and lab fees.

  • Qualified long-term care services (see Pub. 502).

  • The supplemental part of Medicare insurance (Medicare B).

  • The premiums you pay for Medicare Part D insurance.

  • A program to stop smoking and for prescription medicines to alleviate nicotine withdrawal.

  • A weight-loss program as treatment for a specific disease (including obesity) diagnosed by a doctor.

  • Medical treatment at a center for drug or alcohol addiction.

  • Medical aids such as eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, braces, crutches, wheelchairs, and guide dogs, including the cost of maintaining them.

  • Surgery to improve defective vision, such as laser eye surgery or radial keratotomy.

  • Lodging expenses (but not meals) while away from home to receive medical care in a hospital or a medical care facility related to a hospital, provided there was no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel. Do not deduct more than $50 a night for each eligible person.

  • Ambulance service and other travel costs to get medical care. If you used your own car, you can claim what you spent for gas and oil to go to and from the place you received the care; or you can claim 23.5 cents a mile. Add parking and tolls to the amount you claim under either method.

  • Cost of breast pumps and supplies that assist lactation.

Deceased taxpayer. Certain medical expenses paid out of a deceased taxpayer’s estate can be claimed on the deceased taxpayer’s final return. See Pub. 502 for details.

Limit on long-term care premiums you can deduct. The amount you can deduct for qualified long-term care contracts (as defined in Pub. 502) depends on the age, at the end of 2014, of the person for whom the premiums were paid. See the chart below for details.

IF the person was, at the end of 2014, age - THEN the most you can deduct is . . .

  1. 40 or under - $ 370
  2. 41 - 50 - $ 700
  3. 51 - 60 - $ 1,400
  4. 61- 70 - $ 3,720
  5. 71 or older - $ 4,660

Examples of Medical and Dental Payments You Cannot Deduct

  • The cost of diet food.

  • Cosmetic surgery unless it was neces-sary to improve a deformity related to a congenital abnormality, an injury from an accident or trauma, or a disfiguring disease.

  • Life insurance or income protection policies.

  • The Medicare tax on your wages and tips or the Medicare tax paid as part of the self-employment tax or household employment taxes.

    TIP: If you were age 65 or older but not entitled to social security benefits, you can deduct premiums you voluntarily paid for Medicare A coverage .

  • Nursing care for a healthy baby. But you may be able to take a credit for the amount you paid. See the instructions for Form 2441.

  • Illegal operations or drugs.

  • Imported drugs not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This includes foreign-made versions of U.S.-approved drugs manufactured without FDA approval.

  • Nonprescription medicines (including nicotine gum and certain nicotine patches).

  • Travel your doctor told you to take for rest or a change.

  • Funeral, burial, or cremation costs.

Line 1 - Medical and Dental Expenses

Enter the total of your medical and dental expenses, after you reduce these expenses by any payments received from insurance or other sources. See Reimbursements on this page.

TIP: Do not forget to include insurance premiums you paid for medical and dental care. But if you claimed the self-employed health in- surance deduction on Form 1040, line 29, reduce the premiums by the amount on line 29.

Whose medical and dental expenses can you include? You can include medical and dental bills you paid in 2014 for anyone who was one of the following either when the services were provided or when you paid for them.

  • Yourself and your spouse.
  • All dependents you claim on your return.
  • Your child whom you do not claim as a dependent because of the rules for children of divorced or separated parents.
  • Any person you could have claimed as a dependent on your return except that person received $3,950 or more of gross income or filed a joint return.
  • Any person you could have claimed as a dependent except that you, or your spouse if filing jointly, can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s 2014 return.

Example. You provided over half of your mother’s support but cannot claim her as a dependent because she received wages of $3,950 in 2014. You can include on line 1 any medical and dental expenses you paid in 2014 for your mother.

Insurance premiums for certain non- dependents. You may have a medical or dental insurance policy that also covers an individual who is not your dependent (for example, a nondependent child under age 27). You cannot deduct any premiums attributable to this individual, unless they are such a person described under Whose medical and dental expenses can you include. However, if you had family coverage when you added this individual to your policy and your premiums did not increase, you can enter on line 1 the full amount of your medical and dental insurance premiums. See Pub. 502 for more information.

Reimbursements. If your insurance company paid the provider directly for part of your expenses, and you paid only the amount that remained, include on line 1 only the amount you paid. If you received a reimbursement in 2014 for medical or dental expenses you paid in 2014, reduce your 2014 expenses by this amount. If you received a reimbursement in 2014 for prior year medical or dental expenses, do not reduce your 2014 expenses by this amount. But if you deducted the expenses in the earlier year and the deduction reduced your tax, you must include the reimbursement in income on Form 1040, line 21. See Pub. 502 for details on how to figure the amount to include.

Cafeteria plans. Do not include on line 1 insurance premiums paid by an employer-sponsored health insurance plan (cafeteria plan) unless the premiums are included in box 1 of your Form(s) W-2. Also, do not include any other medical and dental expenses paid by the plan unless the amount paid is included in box 1 of your Form(s) W-2.

Part II - Taxes You Paid

Taxes You Cannot Deduct

  • Federal income and most excise taxes.
  •  Social security, Medicare, federal unemployment (FUTA), and railroad retirement (RRTA) taxes.
  • Customs duties.
  • Federal estate and gift taxes. But see the instructions for line 15.
  • Certain state and local taxes, including: tax on gasoline, car inspection fees, assessments for sidewalks or other improvements to your property, tax you paid for someone else, and license fees (marriage, driver’s, dog, etc.).

Line 2 - State and Local Income Taxes

CAUTION: You can elect to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes. You cannot deduct both.

If you deduct state and local income taxes, include on this line the state and local income taxes listed below.

  • State and local income taxes withheld from your salary during 2014. Your Form(s) W-2 will show these amounts. Forms W-2G, 1099-G, 1099-R, and 1099-MISC may also show state and local income taxes withheld.

  • State and local income taxes paid in 2014 for a prior year, such as taxes paid with your 2013 state or local income tax return. Do not include penalties or interest.

  • State and local estimated tax payments made during 2014, including any part of a prior year refund that you chose to have credited to your 2014 state or local income taxes.

  • Mandatory contributions you made to the California, New Jersey, or New York Nonoccupational Disability Benefit Fund, Rhode Island Temporary Disability Benefit Fund, or Washington State Supplemental Workmen’s Compensation Fund.

  • Mandatory contributions to the Alaska, California, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania state unemployment fund.

  • Mandatory contributions to state family leave programs, such as the New Jersey Family Leave Insurance (FLI) program and the California Paid Family Leave program.

Do not reduce your deduction by any:

  • State or local income tax refund or credit you expect to receive for 2014, or
  • Refund of, or credit for, prior year state and local income taxes you actually received in 2014. Instead, see the instructions for Form 1040, line 10.

Line 3 - Real Estate Taxes

TIP: If you are a homeowner who received assistance under a State Housing Finance Agency Hardest Hit Fund program or an Emergency Homeowners' Loan program, see Pub. 530 for the amount you can deduct on line 3.

Include taxes (state, local, or foreign) you paid on real estate you own that was not used for business, but only if the taxes are based on the assessed value of the property. Also, the assessment must be made uniformly on property throughout the community, and the proceeds must be used for general community or governmental purposes. Pub. 530 explains the deductions homeowners can take.

Do not include the following amounts on line 3.

  • Itemized charges for services to specific property or persons (for example, a $20 monthly charge per house for trash collection, a $5 charge for every 1,000 gallons of water consumed, or a flat charge for mowing a lawn that had grown higher than permitted under a local ordinance).

  • Charges for improvements that tend to increase the value of your property (for example, an assessment to build a new sidewalk). The cost of a property improvement is added to the basis of the property. However, a charge is deductible if it is used only to maintain an existing public facility in service (for example, a charge to repair an existing sidewalk, and any interest included in that charge).

If your mortgage payments include your real estate taxes, you can deduct only the amount the mortgage company actually paid to the taxing authority in 2014.

If you sold your home in 2014, any real estate tax charged to the buyer should be shown on your settlement statement and in box 5 of any Form 1099-S you received. This amount is considered a refund of real estate taxes. See Refunds and rebates below. Any real estate taxes you paid at closing should be shown on your settlement statement.

CAUTION: You must look at your real estate tax bill to decide if any nondeductible itemized charges, such as those listed above, are included in the bill. If your taxing authority (or lender) does not furnish you a copy of your real estate tax bill, ask for it.

Refunds and rebates. If you received a refund or rebate in 2014 of real estate taxes you paid in 2014, reduce your deduction by the amount of the refund or rebate. If you received a refund or rebate in 2014 of real estate taxes you paid in an earlier year, do not reduce your deduction by this amount. Instead, you must include the refund or rebate in income on Form 1040, line 21, if you deducted the real estate taxes in the earlier year and the deduction reduced your tax. See Recoveries in Pub. 525 for details on how to figure the amount to include in income.

Line 4 - Personal Property Taxes

Enter the state and local personal property taxes you paid, but only if the taxes were based on value alone and were imposed on a yearly basis.

Example. You paid a yearly fee for the registration of your car. Part of the fee was based on the car's value and part was based on its weight. You can deduct only the part of the fee that was based on the car's value.

Line 5 - Other Tax Type

If you had any deductible tax not listed on line 2 or 3, list the type and amount of tax. Enter only one total on line 5. Include on this line income tax you paid to a foreign country or U.S. possession.

TIP: You may want to take a credit for the foreign tax instead of a deduction. See the instructions for Form 1040, line 48, for details.

Part III - Interest You Paid

Whether your interest expense is treated as investment interest, personal interest, or business interest depends on how and when you used the loan proceeds. See Pub. 535 for details.

In general, if you paid interest in 2014 that applies to any period after 2014, you can deduct only amounts that apply for 2014.

Lines 6 and 7 - Home Mortgage Interest

TIP: If you are a homeowner who received assistance under a State Housing Finance Agency Hardest Hit Fund program or an Emer- gency Homeowners' Loan program, see Pub. 530 for the amount you can deduct on line 6 or 7.

A home mortgage is any loan that is secured by your main home or second home. It includes first and second mortgages, home equity loans, and refinanced mortgages.

A home can be a house, condominium, cooperative, mobile home, boat, or similar property. It must provide basic living accommodations including sleeping space, toilet, and cooking facilities.

Limit on home mortgage interest. If you took out any mortgages after October 13, 1987, your deduction may be limited. Any additional amounts borrowed after October 13, 1987, on a line-of-credit mortgage you had on that date are treated as a mortgage taken out after October 13, 1987. If you refinanced a mortgage you had on October 13, 1987, treat the new mortgage as taken out on or before October 13, 1987. But if you refinanced for more than the balance of the old mortgage, treat the excess as a mortgage taken out after October 13, 1987.

See Pub. 936 to figure your deduction if either (1) or (2) next applies. If you had more than one home at the same time, the dollar amounts in (1) and (2) apply to the total mortgages on both homes.

  1. You took out any mortgages after October 13, 1987, and used the proceeds for purposes other than to buy, build, or improve your home, and all of these mortgages totaled over $100,000 at any time during 2014. The limit is $50,000 if married filing separately. An example of this type of mortgage is a home equity loan used to pay off credit card bills, buy a car, or pay tuition.

  2. You took out any mortgages after October 13, 1987, and used the proceeds to buy, build, or improve your home, and these mortgages plus any mortgages you took out on or before October 13, 1987, totaled over $1 million at any time during 2014. The limit is $500,000 if married filing separately.

CAUTION: If the total amount of all mortgages is more than the fair market value of the home, additional limits apply. See Pub. 936.

Line 6 - Home Mortgage Interest and Points Reported to

You on Form 1098
Enter on line 6 mortgage interest and points reported to you on Form 1098 under your social security number (SSN). If this form shows any refund of overpaid interest, do not reduce your deduction by the refund. Instead, see the instructions for Form 1040, line 21. If you and at least one other person (other than your spouse if filing jointly) were liable for and paid interest on the mortgage, and the interest was reported on Form 1098 under the other person’s SSN, report your share of the interest on line 11 (as explained in the line 7 instructions ).

If you paid more interest to the recipient than is shown on Form 1098, see Pub. 936 to find out if you can deduct the additional interest. If you can, attach a statement explaining the difference.

CAUTION: If you are claiming the mortgage interest credit (for holders of qualified mortgage credit certificates issued by state or local governmental units or agencies), subtract the amount shown on Form 8396, line 3, from the total deductible interest you paid on your home mortgage. Enter the result on line 6.

Line 7 - Other Home Mortgage Interest Paid Not Reported on Line 6

If you did not receive a Form 1098 from the recipient, report your deductible mortgage interest on line 7.

If you paid home mortgage insurance interest to the person from whom you bought the home, write that person's name, identifying number, and address on the dotted lines next to line 11. If the recipient of your home mortgage interest payment(s) is an individual, the identify- ing number is his or her social security number (SSN). Otherwise, it is the em- ployer identification number. You must also let the recipient know your SSN. If you do not show the required informa- tion about the recipient or let the recipi- ent know your SSN, you may have to pay a $50 penalty.

If you and at least one other person (other than your spouse if filing jointly) were liable for and paid interest on the mortgage, and the other person received the Form 1098, attach a statement to your return showing the name and address of that person.

Line 8 - Points Not Reported to You on Form 1098

Points are shown on your settlement statement. Points you paid only to borrow money are generally deductible over the life of the loan. See Pub. 936 to figure the amount you can deduct. Points paid for other purposes, such as for a lender’s services, are not deductible.

Refinancing. Generally, you must deduct points you paid to refinance a mortgage over the life of the loan. This is true even if the new mortgage is secured by your main home.

If you used part of the proceeds to improve your main home, you may be able to deduct the part of the points related to the improvement in the year paid. See Pub. 936 for details.

TIP: If you paid off a mortgage early, deduct any remaining points in the year you paid off the mortgage. However, if you refinanced your mortgage with the same lender, see Mortgage ending early in Pub. 936 for an exception.

Line 9 - Mortgage Insurance Premiums for 2014

Enter the qualified mortgage insurance pre- miums you paid under a mortgage insurance contract issued after December 31, 2006, in connection with home acquisition debt that was secured by your first or second home. Box 4 of Form 1098 may show the amount of premiums you paid in 2014. If you and at least one other person (other than your spouse if filing jointly) were liable for and paid the premiums in connection with the loan, and the premiums were reported on Form 1098 under the other person’s SSN, report your share of the premiums on line 9. See Prepaid mortgage insurance premiums below if you paid any premiums allocable to any period after 2014.

Qualified mortgage insurance is mortgage insurance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Federal Housing Administration, or the Rural Housing Service (or their successor organizations), and private mortgage insurance (as defined in section 2 of the Homeowners Protection Act of 1998 as in effect on December 20, 2006).

Mortgage insurance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Rural Housing Service is commonly known as a funding fee and guarantee fee respectively. These fees can be deducted fully in 2014 if the mortgage insurance contract was issued in 2014. Contact the mortgage insurance issuer to determine the deductible amount if it is not included in box 4 of Form 1098.

Prepaid mortgage insurance premiums. If you paid qualified mortgage insurance premiums that are allocable to periods after 2014, you must allocate them over the shorter of:

  • The stated term of the mortgage, or
  • 84 months, beginning with the month the insurance was obtained.

The premiums are treated as paid in the year to which they are allocated. If the mortgage is satisfied before its term, no deduction is allowed for the unamortized balance. See Pub. 936 for details.

The allocation rules, explained above, do not apply to qualified mortgage insur- ance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Rural Housing Service (or their successor organizations).

Limit on amount you can deduct. You cannot deduct your mortgage insurance premiums if the amount on Form 1040, line 38, is more than $109,000 ($54,500 if married filing separately). If the amount on Form 1040, line 38, is more than $100,000 ($50,000 if married filing separately), your deduction is limited and you must use the Mortgage Insurance Premiums Deduction Worksheet from the Instructions for Schedule A to figure your deduction.

Line 10 - Investment Interest

Investment interest is interest paid on money you borrowed that is allocable to property held for investment. It does not include any interest allocable to passive activities or to securities that generate tax-exempt income.

Complete Form 4952 to figure your deduction.

Exception . You do not have to file Form 4952 if all three of the following apply.

  1. Your investment interest expense is not more than your investment income from interest and ordinary dividends minus any qualified dividends.
  2. You have no other deductible invest- ment expenses.
  3. You have no disallowed investment interest expense from 2013.

CAUTION: Alaska Permanent Fund dividends, including those reported on Form 8814, are not investment income.

For more details, see Pub. 550.

Part IV - Gifts to Charity

You can deduct contributions or gifts you gave to organizations that are religious, charitable, educational, scientific, or literary in purpose. You can also deduct what you gave to organizations that work to prevent cruelty to children or animals. Certain whaling captains may be able to deduct expenses paid in 2014 for Native Alaskan subsistence bowhead whale hunting activities. See Pub. 526 for details.

To verify an organization’s charitable status, you can:

  • Check with the organization to which you made the donation. The organization should be able to provide you with verification of its charitable status.
  • Use our on-line search tool Exempt Organizations Select Check to see if an organization is eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Publication 78 data). You can access Exempt Organizations Select Check on IRS.gov. Click on “Tools” then on Exempt Organizations Select Check.
  • Call our Tax Exempt/Government Entities Customer Account Services at 1-877-829-5500.

Examples of Qualified Charitable Organizations

  • Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, etc.
  • Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, CARE, Girl Scouts, Goodwill Industries, Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way, etc.
  • Fraternal orders, if the gifts will be used for the purposes listed earlier on this page.
  • Veterans’ and certain cultural groups.
  • Nonprofit schools, hospitals, and organizations whose purpose is to find a cure for, or help people who have, arthritis, asthma, birth defects, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, heart disease, hemophilia, mental illness or retardation, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, tuberculosis, etc.
  • Most nonprofit educational organi- zations, such as colleges, but only if your contribution is not a substitute for tuition or other enrollment fees.
  • Federal, state, and local governments if the gifts are solely for public purposes.

Amounts You Can Deduct
Contributions can be in cash, property, or out-of-pocket expenses you paid to do volunteer work for the kinds of organizations described earlier. If you drove to and from the volunteer work, you can take the actual cost of gas and oil or 14 cents a mile. Add parking and tolls to the amount you claim under either method. But do not deduct any amounts that were repaid to you.

Gifts from which you benefit. If you made a gift and received a benefit in return, such as food, entertainment, or merchandise, you can generally only deduct the amount that is more than the value of the benefit. But this rule does not apply to certain membership benefits provided in return for an annual payment of $75 or less or to certain items or benefits of token value. For details, see Pub. 526.

Example. You paid $70 to a charitable organization to attend a fund-raising dinner and the value of the dinner was $40. You can deduct only $30.

Gifts of $250 or more. You can deduct a gift of $250 or more only if you have a statement from the charitable organization showing the information in (1) and (2) next.

  1. The amount of any money contributed and a description (but not value) of any property donated.
  2. Whether the organization did or did not give you any goods or services in return for your contribution. If you did receive any goods or services, a description and estimate of the value must be included. If you received only intangible religious benefits (such as admission to a religious ceremony), the organization must state this, but it does not have to describe or value the benefit.

In figuring whether a gift is $250 or more, do not combine separate donations. For example, if you gave your church $25 each week for a total of $1,300, treat each $25 payment as a separate gift. If you made donations through payroll deductions, treat each deduction from each paycheck as a separate gift. See Pub. 526 if you made a separate gift of $250 or more through payroll deduction.

TIP: You must get the statement by the date you file your return or the due date (including extensions) for filing your return, whichever is earlier. Do not attach the statement to your return. Instead, keep it for your records.

Limit on the amount you can deduct. See Pub. 526 to figure the amount of your deduction if any of the following applies.

  1. Your cash contributions or contributions of ordinary income property are more than 30% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38.
  2. Your gifts of capital gain property are more than 20% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38.
  3. You gave gifts of property that increased in value or gave gifts of the use of property.

Amounts You Cannot Deduct

  • Travel expenses (including meals and lodging) while away from home, unless there was no significant element of personal pleasure, recreation, or vacation in the travel.
  • Political contributions.
  • Dues, fees, or bills paid to country clubs, lodges, fraternal orders, or similar groups.
  • Cost of raffle, bingo, or lottery tickets.
  • Value of your time or services.
  • Value of blood given to a blood bank.
  • The transfer of a future interest in tangible personal property (generally, until the entire interest has been transferred).
  • Gifts to individuals and groups that are run for personal profit.
  • Gifts to foreign organizations. But you may be able to deduct gifts to certain U.S. organizations that transfer funds to foreign charities and certain Canadian, Israeli, and Mexican charities. See Pub. 526 for details.
  • Gifts to organizations engaged in certain political activities that are of direct financial interest to your trade or business. See section 170(f)(9).
  • Gifts to groups whose purpose is to lobby for changes in the laws.
  • Gifts to civic leagues, social and sports clubs, labor unions, and chambers of commerce.
  • Value of benefits received in connection with a contribution to a charitable organization. See Pub. 526 for exceptions.
  • Cost of tuition.

Line 11 - Gifts by Cash or Check

Enter on line 11 the total gifts you made in cash or by check (including out-of-pocket expenses).

Recordkeeping. For any contribution made in cash, regardless of the amount, you must maintain as a record of the contribu- tion a bank record (such as a canceled check or credit card statement) or a written record from the charity. The written record must include the name of the charity, date, and amount of the contribution. If you made contributions through payroll deduction, see Pub. 526 for information on the records you must keep. Do not attach the record to your tax return. Instead, keep it with your other tax records.

Line 12 - Gifts Other Than by Cash or Check

Enter on line 12 the total value of your contributions of property other than by cash or check. If you gave used items, such as clothing or furniture, deduct their fair market value at the time you gave them. Fair market value is what a willing buyer would pay a willing seller when neither has to buy or sell and both are aware of the conditions of the sale. For more details on determining the value of donated property, see Pub. 561.

If the amount of your deduction is more than $500, you must complete and attach Form 8283. For this purpose, the “amount of your deduction” means your deduction before applying any income limits that could result in a carryover of contributions. If you deduct more than $500 for a contribution of a motor vehicle, boat, or airplane, you must also attach a statement from the charitable organization to your return. The organization may use Form 1098-C to provide the required information. If your total deduction is over $5,000, you may also have to get appraisals of the values of the donated property. This amount is $500 for certain contributions of clothing and household items (see below). See Form 8283 and its instructions for details.

Contributions of clothing and household items. A deduction for these contributions will be allowed only if the items are in good used condition or better. However, this rule does not apply to a contribution of any single item for which a deduction of more than $500 is claimed and for which you include a qualified appraisal and Form 8283 with your tax return.

Recordkeeping. If you gave property, you should keep a receipt or written statement from the organization you gave the property to, or a reliable written record, that shows the organization’s name and address, the date and location of the gift, and a description of the property. For each gift of property, you should also keep reliable written records that include:

  • How you figured the property’s value at the time you gave it. If the value was determined by an appraisal, keep a signed copy of the appraisal.

  • The cost or other basis of the property if you must reduce it by any ordinary income or capital gain that would have resulted if the property had been sold at its fair market value.

  • How you figured your deduction if you chose to reduce your deduction for gifts of capital gain property.

  • Any conditions attached to the gift.

CAUTION: If your total deduction for gifts of property is over $500, you gave less than your entire interest in the property, or you made a “qualified conservation contribution,” your records should contain additional information. See Pub. 526 for details.

Line 13 - Carryover From Prior Year

Enter any carryover of contributions that you could not deduct in an earlier year because they exceeded your adjusted gross income limit. See Pub. 526 for details.

Line 14 - Casualty or Theft Loss(es)

Complete and attach Form 4684 to figure the amount of your loss to enter on line 14.

You may be able to deduct part or all of each loss caused by theft, vandalism, fire, storm, or similar causes; car, boat, and other accidents; and corrosive drywall. You may also be able to deduct money you had in a financial institution but lost because of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the institution.

You can deduct personal casualty or theft losses only to the extent that:

  1. The amount of each separate casualty or theft loss is more than $100, and
  2. The total amount of all losses during the year (reduced by the $100 limit discussed in (1) above) is more than 10% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38.

Corrosive drywall losses. If you paid for repairs to your personal residence or household appliances because of corrosive drywall, you may be able to deduct on line 14 those amounts paid. See Pub. 547 for details.

Examples of these costs are appraisal fees and photographs used to establish the amount of your loss.

Job Expenses and Other Miscellaneous Deductions

You can deduct only the part of these expenses that exceeds 2% of the amount on Form 1040, line 38.

Pub. 529 discusses the types of expenses that can and cannot be deducted.

Examples of Expenses You Cannot Deduct

  • Political contributions.
  • Legal expenses for personal matters that do not produce taxable income.
  • Lost or misplaced cash or property.
  • Expenses for meals during regular or extra work hours.
  • The cost of entertaining friends.
  • Commuting expenses. See Pub. 529 for the definition of commuting.
  • Travel expenses for employment away from home if that period of employment exceeds 1 year. See Pub. 529 for an exception for certain federal employees.
  • Travel as a form of education.
  • Expenses of attending a seminar, convention, or similar meeting unless it is related to your employment.
  • Club dues.
  • Expenses of adopting a child. But you may be able to take a credit for adoption expenses. See Form 8839 for details.
  • Fines and penalties.
  • Expenses of producing tax-exempt income.

Line 12 - Unreimbursed Employee Expenses

Enter the total ordinary and necessary job expenses you paid for which you were not reimbursed. (Amounts your employer included in box 1 of your Form W-2 are not considered reimbursements.)

An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your field of trade, business, or profession. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your business. An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary.

But you must fill in and attach Form 2106 if either (1) or (2), next, applies.

  1. You claim any travel, transportation, meal, or entertainment expenses for your job.
  2. Your employer paid you for any of your job expenses that you would otherwise report on line 12.

TIP: If you used your own vehicle, are using the standard mileage rate, and (2) earlier, does not apply, you may be able to file Form 2106-EZ instead.

Examples of other expenses to include on line 12 are:

  • Safety equipment, small tools, and supplies needed for your job.
  • Uniforms required by your em- ployer that are not suitable for ordinary wear.
  • Protective clothing required in your work, such as hard hats, safety shoes, and glasses.
  • Physical examinations required by your employer.
  • Dues to professional organizations and chambers of commerce.
  • Subscriptions to professional journals.
  • Fees to employment agencies and other costs to look for a new job in your present occupation, even if you do not get a new job.
  • Certain business use of part of your home. For details, including limits that apply, use TeleTax topic 509 (see the Form 1040 instructions) or see Pub. 587.
  • Certain educational expenses. For details, use TeleTax topic 513 (see the Form 1040 instructions) or see Pub. 970. Reduce your educational expenses by any tuition and fees deduction you claimed on Form 1040, line 34.

Tip: You may be able to take a credit for your educational ex- penses instead of a deduction. See Form 8863 for details.

Line 13 - Tax Preparation Fees

Enter the fees you paid for preparation of your tax return, including fees paid for fil ing your return electronically. If you paid your tax by credit or debit card, include the convenience fee you were charged on line 12f instead of this line.

Line 15 - Other Miscellaneous Deduction(s)

Only the expenses listed next can be deducted on this line. List the type and amount of each expense on line 15. Enter one total on line 15.

  • Gambling losses (gambling losses include, but are not limited to, the cost of non-winning bingo, lottery, and raffle tickets), but only to the extent of gam- bling winnings reported on Form 1040, line 21.
  • Casualty and theft losses of income-producing property from Form 4684, lines 32 and 38b, or Form 4797, line 18a.
  • Loss from other activities from Schedule K-1 (Form 1065-B), box 2.
  • Federal estate tax on income in respect of a decedent.
  • A deduction for amortizable bond premium (for example, a deduction for amortizable bond premium on bonds ac- quired before October 23, 1986).
  • An ordinary loss attributable to a contingent payment debt instrument or an inflation-indexed debt instrument (for example, a Treasury Inflation-Protected Security).
  • Deduction for repayment of amounts under a claim of right if over $3,000. See Pub. 525 for details.
  • Certain unrecovered investment in a pension.
  • Impairment-related work expenses of a disabled person.

For more details, see Pub. 529.