Interview expenses tax deductible?

[bobk]

We're in the midst of the fellowship interview season and the costs are adding up quickly. I just remembered that job searching expenses are tax deductible. Does residency and fellowship count? If so, is there a limit or restrictions on which things you can list?
I haven't added it all up yet, but would estimate around $5-$6K.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Residency does not count, I'm not sure about fellowship. Residency doesn't count because you're not job hunting, it's considered part of your training and you're not moving from one job to another. You're moving from a student to a quasi-job.

[SoonerTexan]

You're moving from a student to a quasi-job.

Maybe that explains why you've only been "quasi-paid"

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Maybe that explains why you've only been "quasi-paid"

Probably.

[moonlight]

Residency does not count, I'm not sure about fellowship. Residency doesn't count because you're not job hunting, it's considered part of your training and you're not moving from one job to another. You're moving from a student to a quasi-job.

Really? Ops. We counted it. And if our next accountant allows it I'm submitting the number for fellowship expenses as well.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Really? Ops. We counted it. And if our next accountant allows it I'm submitting the number for fellowship expenses as well.

Everything I've read said that it's not deductible - trust me, I would have liked to do it!!

Fellowship might be because it's moving from one job to another. I don't think, for example, that you can deduct expenses when looking for a job out of undergrad either but I'm not sure. I researched it via multiple sources that said it wasn't but the likelihood of an audit is obviously really low at our income levels.

[MrsK]

Residency does not count, I'm not sure about fellowship. Residency doesn't count because you're not job hunting, it's considered part of your training and you're not moving from one job to another. You're moving from a student to a quasi-job.

According to our accountant, Residency DOES count. We were able to claim moving expenses for internship and residency. A quasi-job is a job.

[MrsK]

After all, you are paying real taxes on quasi-income earned at that quasi-job.

[spotty_dog]

Fellowship might be because it's moving from one job to another. I don't think, for example, that you can deduct expenses when looking for a job out of undergrad either but I'm not sure. I researched it via multiple sources that said it wasn't but the likelihood of an audit is obviously really low at our income levels.

Yes, from residency to fellowship might count, and from residency to the first post-training job definitely does. Med school to residency shouldn't count. http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/...258312,00.html "You cannot deduct job search expenses if you are looking for a job for the first time."

[poky]

According to our accountant, Residency DOES count. We were able to claim moving expenses for internship and residency. A quasi-job is a job.

Yes, this is true, but the original question was about job search expenses, not moving expenses. Related, but not the same.

[houseelf]

We deducted fellowship interview expenses.

[bobk]

Thanks for all the replies. It looks like residency to fellowship would meet the job search criteria. I'll check with our accountant and see what he thinks.

[peggyfromwastate]

We deducted it last year. No problem.

[moonlight]

For us it wasn't DH's first job. Maybe that's why our accountant counted it. Also this was for 2009 taxes. Maybe thing has changed since then.

[MissCrabette]

Moonlight, it's a moot point now, but you can't deduct job search expenses when looking for a first job in a new profession. From the IRS link posted by spotty_dog:

To qualify for a deduction, your expenses must be spent on a job search in your current occupation. You may not deduct expenses you incur while looking for a job in a new occupation.