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Is Your Job Search Tax Deductible?

Published: Nov 05, 2009

"In the world nothing can be said to be certain," Ben Franklin famously observed, "except death and taxes." Pardon us for our presumption, Ben, but we think you're wrong. First off: love 'em or hate 'em, it's pretty much a certainty that the Yankees will go right on winning World Series titles. And, if you're a jobseeker, paying taxes doesn't necessarily have to be on your list of things to do, at least according to Black Enterprise.

Now, lest we be causing too much excitement in the tax-revolt/tea-bagging community, let's just get a couple of things straight. First, the tax breaks in the piece are only intended to defray the costs associated with finding a job. Second, not everyone qualifies: a list of those excluded includes people seeking to change career fields, those who have had a "substantial break" between periods of employment (presumably that's a voluntary one, as opposed to a "I've been trying but just can't get hired anywhere" kind of substantial break--right?), and recent grads (because, y'know, first-time job seekers are rolling in cash and don't deserve a break).

Still, if you have been looking for work—or are about to begin—it may be worth checking out the rules this coming season to see if you can claim any of your expenses back. Every little helps, after all.


AP Photo/George Ruhe


"If I'd known I could deduct resume costs, I'd never have made this sign."

--Posted by Phil Stott, Vault.com

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