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Also a perfect example of the power of 'facts and circumstances'. And why a good professional uses his knowledge and experience when thinking of what can be defended, I've seen posts stating that you should not even have personal pictures in your office! Ridiculous.

Talk about running around in circles. So I got back to his return today, and just for grins I decided to run the numbers taking the deduction for the $4K of travel, along with his other employee business expenses. I assumed he's going to ask what it "would have looked like" if he could take the deduction. I'd certainly ask that question if it were me. Turns out I can tell him it makes NO DIFFERENCE. What the 2106 giveth, the 6251 taketh away. His taxes would be lower if we simply reduced the Line 21 entry, but I never seriously considered doing that from the outset. So maybe the buddy pass is still a possibility....

My invoice lists "Schedule A (analysis)" as a boilerplate entry. It's on every invoice, because I don't bill by schedule or line entry. That entry means one of several things: 1) I analyzed everything you gave me, you didn't provide any Schedule A information, and I moved on. (no charge) 2) I looked at your Itemized Deduction figures, determined you didn't have enough to itemize, and moved on (no charge) 3) I added up all the medical receipts in your shoebox, plus your other deductions, determined you didn't have enough to itemize, and moved on (the time I spent is included in your bill) 4) I prepared a Schedule A and billed you accordingly. For some clients who don't have enough to itemize, but whom I suspect will inquire, I nevertheless force-print a Schedule A for the client copy set and put a big "X" on it with a felt pin.

And, of course, some states have very different rules for Std deductions [AR being one] so often they get the deduction on the state even if federal uses std.

Depends if its the quantity or quality of the posts!!! [just kidding Jack] [i mean /s/s/s/s/s/s]

Most of my/our clients that are not paying a big mortgage payment never cross the standard deduction, even with the Union Dues, work boots, the $300-$500 in charitable giving and the 5 bags of clothes given to Goodwill. Yet, they always ask where the deductions are. I include Schedule A and charge for it, even if the standard deduction applies. Easier to say "Yes those items were deducted" than to explain standard deduction. They just want to get their deduction for those items. Those that are smart enough to understand standard vs. itemized don't even give me those figures.

You have just entered..... "The Twilight Zone!"

Nobody is being very sympathetic here. I'm not worried about getting paid to prepare the return, but I've got to tell you all that you're probably costing me a few "buddy passes" for future air travel. Are you feeling any guilt?