<p>If a tux is required for concerts would it be tax deductible since it is required?</p>
<p>This might be helpful: [Tax</a> Tips for Musicians](<a href=“http://www.musicianwages.com/the-working-musician/tax-tips-for-musicians/]Tax”>http://www.musicianwages.com/the-working-musician/tax-tips-for-musicians/)</p>
<p>The question is not “is it required”, but “is it suitable for ordinary use”. It is probably best to consult a professional.
For example you may be required in your job as a professional in an office to wear a suit. But it is not tax deductible.</p>
<p>also:<a href=“http://www.local802afm.org/publication_entry.cfm?xEntry=47973675[/url]”>http://www.local802afm.org/publication_entry.cfm?xEntry=47973675</a></p>
<p>Agree with musicamusica’s advice from the standpoint of a professional or self employed musician’s ability to take a tux as a tax-deduction or work related expense. A prior similar thread <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/526360-tax-questions-musicians.html?highlight=tax[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/526360-tax-questions-musicians.html?highlight=tax</a></p>
<p>But I’m wondering if the OP was not thinking more in terms of a valid deductible “educational expense”. If that’s the case, see the thread here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/673438-can-stafford-loan-used-towards-buying-musical-instrument.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/673438-can-stafford-loan-used-towards-buying-musical-instrument.html</a> and the definition posted by sagiter here <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/816774-new-instrument-acceptable-529-expense.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/music-major/816774-new-instrument-acceptable-529-expense.html</a> </p>
<p>Just be careful that tax rules can change, so it’s always best to consult the most recent appropriate IRS publication(s) or your tax pro.</p>
<p>Yes, I should have been more detailed in my original post. This would be for an educational expense deduction. He is required to wear a tux to perform in the concerts and required to perform in the concerts to pass the class. So therefore would not pass the class without a tux.</p>
<p>For the first concert he rented a tux. Since then we have bought one. Yes we knew he would need one but I procrastinated and the date snuck up on us and with him being away in an unfamiliar city thought it would be best to rent instead of rushing to buy one when we did’nt know what we were doing!</p>
<p>Thanks for the links.</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of deducting performance clothes as an educational expense. If you son has enough income from his performances, it might be deductible as a business expense on his own tax return. My daughter receives 1099s and does file a tax form, but it never occurred to me to deduct the cost of her performance clothing (which she does not wear for any other use.) I’d check with an accountant-- you don’t want to make an error or create a red flag on your return that will buy you trouble from the IRS.</p>
<p>^There’s a whole section on it over at the IRS.com site – just search student educational deductions. According to what I just gave our accountant in terms of receipts he requested, any “books, supplies, equipment” including instruments, sheet music, electronic equipment, instrument repair and maintenance, software etc. is an allowable educational expense against excess revenue (eg. scholarship $ beyond tuition) PROVIDED that it is REQUIRED by the class in question. So if the class requires a tux for performance, that would be an acceptable educational expense, even though under NORMAL circumstances, it’s not.</p>
<p>The same tux purchased the following year if the student were NOT taking a class that specified dress code would NOT be an educational expense, as I am given to understand.</p>
<p>(P.S. McSon already has a tux that we’d previously purchased so I did not specifically ask accountant about this; I am just sharing the jist of the conversation as it was explained to me ;)</p>