Guns tax write offs

[kblock108]

Anyone here know how many gun you can or are allowed to write off for tax purposes? I have purchased several this year, all for different purposes (I.e. Not 4 duty guns).

[borderguy]

Why would an LEO be allowed to write off a non-duty gun?

[kblock108]

Always one...I guess. I posted a question, solicitating an answer to my question.not for another question. For clarification, a duty gun to me is a side arm. But I carry multiple, duty, back up, rifle, etc...all for work, not sport or leisure.

[34marine]

Always one...I guess. I posted a question, solicitating an answer to my question.not for another question. For clarification, a duty gun to me is a side arm. But I carry multiple, duty, back up, rifle, etc...all for work, not sport or leisure.

The answer is 2

[Thesource161]

I was told one a year.

[71MUSTY]

The actual rule is Ordinary and Necessary.

To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your industry. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your trade or business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

So in an audit you would need to prove that the number of guns you are writing off is common and accepted in your industry and helpful and appropriate.

So no fixed number but you need to be able to defend the number.

Also you would need to convince the auditor they were not for personal use.


So it really comes down to how convincing you are and the auditors bias or experience.

Kind of like a traffic stop.

In have had good luck defending LEO's equipment expenses.

Do not recommend you deduct haircuts, gym memberships or on duty meals. Auditors love to slash those.

Deduct mileage to range and court.

[Ralston]

So that Mosin 91/30 write off wasn't a good idea? Asking for a friend.

[SVT-40]

I always did one each year. Plus all the ammo I bought...Never an issue.

[borderguy]

Always one...I guess. I posted a question, solicitating an answer to my question.not for another question. For clarification, a duty gun to me is a side arm. But I carry multiple, duty, back up, rifle, etc...all for work, not sport or leisure.

Thank you, the ambiguousness of you question didn't clearly state the specifics.

To an auditor, duty/work is interchangeable.

You question appears to have been answered.
I also wrote off union dues, batteries, and gym fees etc. as they were related to work.

If you have a temporary assignment, you can also write off travel expenses.

I was lucky and worked with an officer who was an ex IRS agent.

[71MUSTY]

Thank you, the ambiguousness of you question didn't clearly state the specifics.

To an auditor, duty/work is interchangeable.

You question appears to have been answered.
I also wrote off union dues, batteries, and gym fees etc. as they were related to work.

If you have a temporary assignment, you can also write off travel expenses.

I was lucky and worked with an officer who was an ex IRS agent.

^^^^^Correct, except for the gym fees. IRS will not allow gym fees or haircuts.^^^^^

Safety equip too. Dry cleaning, rain gear...

[XDJYo]

I'm assuming this is on Form 2106. Talk with a CPA and ask about specifics. I see all manner of unreimbursed employee expenses. However, it's a little sad that I HARDLY ever see police have much in the way of ammo deductions or for firearms.

[oddjob]

My CPA told me I had to depreciate the gun over a five year period and if I sold it I had to claim capital gains.

[71MUSTY]

My CPA told me I had to depreciate the gun over a five year period and if I sold it I had to claim capital gains.

Old rules. No longer apply. Time to see your CPA (or better yet EA) and learn the new rules.

[SMarquez]

Not a LEO but I use an EA that has a mostly Public Safety client base. You should be able to find a retired LEO that has become an EA and specializes in LEO taxes. FWIW I write off the sales tax on firearm purchases. As a FF I wrote off all kinds of stuff like gear bags, knives, belts etc. This was all prompted by my EA when I did my taxes. She told me that she was confident that there are "usual and customary" accessories that we add from out own pocket to do our jobs but to not go crazy with it.

[71MUSTY]

Not a LEO but I use an EA that has a mostly Public Safety client base. You should be able to find a retired LEO that has become an EA and specializes in LEO taxes. FWIW I write off the sales tax on firearm purchases. As a FF I wrote off all kinds of stuff like gear bags, knives, belts etc. This was all prompted by my EA when I did my taxes. She told me that she was confident that there are "usual and customary" accessories that we add from out own pocket to do our jobs but to not go crazy with it.

Just about any EA (Ideally you want an EA who got his license thru passing the exam, not one that got it by default because he worked for the IRS for x number of years) will know how to correctly handle a LEO's deductions. Remember EA's are the true tax experts.
CPA's are accounting experts.
I am not saying there are no CPA's who are tax experts (some are as good as it gets), but nothing in their Education, Licensing or Continued Education requirements pertain to proficiency in income taxes.