Claming conferences and related fees on my taxes?

[futuredo32]

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My residency program does things differently than most. Instead of a GME fund where it's untaxed and we submit receipts for conferences and books (which would have been 3200 for the year), and get reimbursed they just added it to our salary and it ended up to be a taxed 1900 check. So, since it was taxed, can I claim conference fees, travel and hotel for conferences, and books on my taxes?
Honestly, we lost a ton of money because they taxed it and just made it part of our salary.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[colbgw02]

No expert here, but if it was a business expense that was not specifically reimbursed, then it can be deducted just like any other business-related cost. I believe these expenses are subject to a 2% floor.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You should really talk to your GME office, because this is pretty dumb. Remember that payroll taxes are paid 50/50 by employer and employee -- they would save tons of money by making it an expense reimbursement.

 

[futuredo32]

I think it's dumb too. But it's a huge gigantic institution and I'm sure they could care less what I think. It was a huge financial loss because all the conferences that I would attend,, half of them I would have to pay out of pocket. It took away from my educational experience. They didn't like the hassle of dealing with the reimbursement. I'm just hoping that if I can claim it on my taxes I can get a little back to maybe buy and extra book or in a perfect world go to a conference.

 

[Obnoxious Dad]

My residency program does things differently than most. Instead of a GME fund where it's untaxed and we submit receipts for conferences and books (which would have been 3200 for the year), and get reimbursed they just added it to our salary and it ended up to be a taxed 1900 check. So, since it was taxed, can I claim conference fees, travel and hotel for conferences, and books on my taxes?
Honestly, we lost a ton of money because they taxed it and just made it part of our salary.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

I am a CPA and prepare hundreds of tax returns every year. Like APD says, someone with a brain needs to talk to the imbeciles who won't just reimburse you and call it good. There is no way this should be treated as wage income.

You can deduct these expenses on Form 2106 as an employee business expense. These expenses would then flow to your Schedule A. When they get on Schedule A you will only be able to deduct your employee business expenses to the extent they exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income. The total deductions on your Schedule A will have to exceed your standard deduction to do you any good. Chances are your only other itemized deduction is state income tax, because I presume you live in a rented apartment. You should try to take the deduction on turbo tax but chances are you are just screwed.

 

[futuredo32]

Thanks🙂. I plan on going to several conferences, but it's not going to exceed 2% of my income, so I guess I am as you said, just screwed. Hopefully they change it next year I lost a ton of GME money because they taxed it!