The Answer is Yes. You can deduct Airfare, Meals, Lodging, Transportation and Parking for all your Seminars and Meetings, but you need to claim them on your schedule C 1040. Half of can be claimed under schedule A. Keep your receipts, get a flyer/program from the meeting and if possible get a certificate of completion for any courses/hours you might take.
This is one of the big areas where people LOSE a lot of money. Most physicians do not itemize their deductions, which will often greatly exceed you general individual deduction. Other fun expenses that can be deducted by physicians: (up to date as of this year, who knows what tax changes will occur in the future)
Auto Expenses at 50 cents a mile - Maintain a mileage book. Include dates, destinations, miles, reasons for travel.
Licenses (State Licenses fees and other related fees)
Dues: AOA, AAD, ACP
Subscriptions: Medical Literature/Up to Date/Access Medicine
Business related Entertainment at 50% - Keep dates, where you went, number of people and reasons for event
Insurance - Malpractice
Office Expenses - Supplies, Pens, Satchel (Tumi anyone?), Desks, Chairs, cabinets, computers, printers, Internet.
Medical Expenses - White Coat, Scrubs, Medical Equipment, Insignia Clothing
Cell Phone - Physicians can deduct their cell phone expenses, but not a home phone line.
Home Office - You cannot deduct the cost of building an office at home, but you can deduct nearly all of the contents, i.e. computers, printers, Internet, etc
Books/Medical Libarary
Furniture in your office up to $140,000
Accounting Fees
Job Hunting related fees, application fees, travel fees, etc.
Gifts from your Practice - Charity, Thank-you, etc.
Keep all of your Checks and Receipts. Pay the extra fee to have the bank actually send both your home and practice cashed checks back to you in the mail. These are vital in proving your Medical/Business related expenses to the IRS
