Professor

Without risking an audit, what are some of the more atypical deductions and credits have you filed on you income tax report?

I got a $1200 credit for putting on a new roof this past year.

I wish a could deduct donations to public education in the form of losing SC Educational Lottery tickets...

Will Y.

Just itemized business deductions here, but even that boosts the audit risk.
Some stuff is normal, like personal car use, but some deductions are more rare-- work shoes, dry cleaning/laundry for suits and button down shirts (which I don't wear outside of work), office equipment and supplies used at home for work purposes, etc.

doopstr

Is your roof certified energy star? Not every roof qualifies. I found that out after I put the roof on.

svtmike

New car tax credit.
High Efficiency Furnace credit.

My wife screwed up her withholding again and once again I still owe, but only half as much as last year.

wndrlst

Nothing really atypical. I claim my student loan interest. The past couple of years my salary has been too high to capitalize on it much, but this year I should get more out of it.