Jackson Hewitt(R) Tax Franchise Provides Tips To Help Taxpayers Identify and Claim Job-Related Tax Deductions

By: Jackson Hewitt Tax Service | 0 Shares 53 Reads

PARSIPPANY, N.J. // PRNewswire-FirstCall // -- The unreimbursed expenses you've incurred based on your occupation may lead to valuable tax deductions on your income tax return! Jackson Hewitt Tax Service® reminds taxpayers that they can maximize their refund or minimize the amount they may owe by claiming tax deductions related to their job/occupation.

"Taxpayers, especially in this economy, want to make sure they are receiving or keeping all the money they deserve," said Mark Steber, chief tax officer, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. "For taxpayers who are employed, unreimbursed job-related supplies, subscriptions to professional journals and even certain kinds of clothing can often be deducted when filing an annual tax return. Taxpayers need to be aware of the deductions that are available based on their occupation and make sure they have the appropriate documentation so that they can accurately claim these deductions on their tax return."

Jackson Hewitt uses its proprietary "Deductions@Work" program to assist clients in identifying the occupation-related tax deductions that are available to them. The program reviews over 50 of the most common occupations. Following are examples of several deductible items pertaining to select occupations:

Healthcare Professionals

Subscriptions to professional medical journals
Professional organization dues
Malpractice insurance or insurance premiums for protection against liability or wrongful acts
Specialized equipment or tools
Clothing required for work that is not appropriate for everyday wear (for example, a nurse's bedside uniform and shoes that cannot be worn when off-duty)
State or local government regulatory fees, licenses, or flat rate occupational taxes, provided these fees are not paid for initial certification or licensing

Teachers:

Fees paid to renew a teaching certificate
Expenses incurred when lecturing, writing or publishing for which you receive no additional compensation other than your regular salary
Clothing required for work that is not appropriate for everyday wear (for example, an art teacher's smock or a dance teacher's jazz shoes)
Allowable car expenses incurred when taking students on an excursion or field trip
Cost of materials used for a class play or a class party

Construction Workers:

Dues for trade associations or unions
Insurance premiums for protection against liability or wrongful acts
Specialized equipment or tools
Safety equipment, such as steel-toed shoes or boots
The cost and upkeep of uniforms if they are required for work and not suitable for everyday wear (for example, specialized coveralls, hard hat, work gloves, safety shoes, and goggles not suitable as street wear)

Journalists or Media Professionals:

Travel expenses, including travel for business assignments (for example, interviews, research and coverage of news stories)
Job-related expenses, such as business cards, resumes, Web site development and the business-use portion of the cost of equipment (for example, video cameras, tape recorders and tapes used for interviews or cameras and film for photo journalists)
Expenses associated with a qualified home office or part of your home used regularly and exclusively for your work
Cellular telephones and the service charges to support them
Cost of magazines, newspapers and other media items used in the course of business

"Taxpayers often overlook many job-related deductions for which they are eligible, but spending a little time to learn what's available can make a significant difference in the size of a refund or the amount of tax owed," said Steber.

To find out which deductions are available for a given occupation, please visit Jackson Hewitt's Online Resource Center.

About Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. (NYSE: JTX), with more than 6,300 franchised and company-owned offices throughout the United States, is an industry leader providing full service individual federal and state income tax return preparation. Most offices are independently owned and operated. To locate the Jackson Hewitt Tax Service® office nearest to you, call 1-800-234-1040.

SOURCE Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.

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