can i tax deduct these interview travel expenses?

i'm sorry, I'm sure this is listed somewhere, but i tried searching and didn't find the specific answer to this question.

I'm getting a stipend as a graduate student this year, whereby i have to pay taxes (duh). I'm also interviewing. Can i deduct? what? if not, why?

surgeon2b forev said:

i'm sorry, I'm sure this is listed somewhere, but i tried searching and didn't find the specific answer to this question.

I'm getting a stipend as a graduate student this year, whereby i have to pay taxes (duh). I'm also interviewing. Can i deduct? what? if not, why?

Click to expand...

There are several threads about this in the General Residency Forum. While the topic gets raised every year, and is often controversial, most agree that residency interview expenses are NOT deductible.

Here are a couple of threads: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=354281&highlight=deduction+residency+interviews

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=253099&highlight=deduction+residency+interviews

I had a tax prep professional who told me that in general they probably are, but that you don't make enough money in the six months of your first year to make those deductions really count for anything, especially if you buy a house.

It is very simple to figure his out. The IRS has publications for just about every tax question you might have. In this case this tells us this:
You can deduct certain expenses you have in looking for a new job in your present occupation, even if you do not get a new job. You cannot deduct these expenses if:

1. You are looking for a job in a new occupation,
2. There was a substantial break between the ending of your last job and your looking for a new one, or
3. You are looking for a job for the first time.

Unless you were already a doctor before looking for your residency position this is going to be a new occupation for you.

However, if the OP wants to try something on the shady side they can figure out some way to make those interview trips into business trips as well. That is only going to help if you itemize (or if they pay you as an independent contractor-then you can use it to offset your "business" income)