When I was an auditor working for the State of California’s Franchise Tax Board (FTB), I saw some very interesting expenses that taxpayers claimed and hoped would qualify as deductible business expenses. I have audited taxpayers who deducted personal vehicles as business expenses, personal costs as consulting expenses, or fines and penalties as dues and subscriptions (yes, parking fines are not considered business expenses). Based on the experience and the knowledge I obtained at the FTB, I would like to identify some expenses which are deductible and some which are not.
