PolishPete

I got my haircut, and they guy asked if I wanted my receipt. I said no, and he was like "are you sure? You know its tax deductible." And I was like, ok well hows that...and he explains, "well, you're a manager, you have a business meeting to close a deal, you need a haircut"...like that. Is that legit?

Zippee

And if you weren't a manager you'd let the hair grow down your back?

No, it's not deductable, it's a normal living expense.

Scrib

I think what they were getting at is it is deductible when you itemize; total sales tax spent over the year. It's either that or income tax paid. It's not haircut specefic.

Most people elect not to go with sales tax deductions because it's a royal pain in the ass to save every receipt and prove you spent X in sales tax. There is a "stadard" deduction for single and married for sales tax, but at least in my case, my wife and I are much better off using income tax as the deduction.

Interesting they said what they did...

moeronn

The only way I could see using haircuts as a tax deduction would be if you need some special haircut for your job - like you're a performer with wild hair or perhaps of you're a military reservist that doesn't get haircuts on base.

NiteQwill

Yup. I am able to ask for reimbursement from the US Govt for $7/week for haircuts due to my reserve duty status, according to my military finance office. That's $364/yr. Pretty good I think. I rightfully claim so every year.

PolishPete

Thanks for the input guys. I didn't think it was, but thought it weird that he would think so.

revitupwriteitoff

I have an African American client that, a few years ago, that sold advertising on his head on Ebay. He sold a message cut into his hair, so he could write off the cost of his $80 haircut as Cost of Goods Sold (yes, he claimed the income). Probably not what you're talking about, but funny IMO.

Otherwise, no, you cannot deduct haircuts (like the other guys have said). You would have to get a haircut whether or not you were making a deal go down .

greybeard

I'd love to write off "business expenses" like that. Here are some other things you could write off too, if that one worked:

- car payment (transportation to the client)
- eating food (you require energy to reach the client)
- new clothing (have to look presentable!)
- vacations (improving morale)
- etc etc

revitupwriteitoff

don't forget the food you fed your pet(s)...I'm sure you wouldn't do well in the meeting knowing your dog had starved to death.