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Can I write off POV/medical supplies for my taxes?
I already filed my taxes for this year and being a younger guy, I pretty much got everything I paid back. Although I was just sitting here wondering about next years taxes and wondered if I could write off POV lighting and/or personally bought medical equipment/supplies (ie. all the stuff I keep in a medbag in my truck) as exemptions. I obviously don't make the dept. pay for those things but are they considered work expenses? Can anybody help me on this one? I really don't want to spend money at H+R Block next year lol.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on
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Well I agree with a few things that should be tax deductable.
The government requires us to stop and give assistance if we pull up on a wreck. If we have to assist BSI should be tax deductable. I dont know how many of you out there keep a bag in your personal vehical but I do its not much but I have a few things.
Gloves
stethascope I like my own ears because I know I can hear with them
BP cuff I check my grandmothers every day
trauma sheers They have a bottle opener on em I had to get them
Like I say its not much but it will work If I need them when I have to stop at a wreck because the government tells me I have to.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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The government requires us to stop and give assistance if we pull up on a wreck
excuse me?
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Let me rephrase this for you Oldman. I believe its the duty to act. Maybe Im wrong but thats how I understood it
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Permalink Reply by Derek R. on
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Kinda same here. We get a $500 tax credit as of this year. Last year was $250. That's supposed to cover POV expenses and time for the previous year. Sounds kinda funny though. Here we are volunteering and at the same time, looking for more money from the government to "pay us back" for our time. But hey, I'm not gonna complain.
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Permalink Reply by CHRIS PUYLARA on
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Hey Lindsey, read your post here,I too am in N.C. yes you were right about the $ 250.00 tax deduction but you also can deduct your mileage and if you made a donation to your dept. (money, a car for extrication class,with proper receipt from dept.) that too is tax deductible plus the 250 and if I'm not mistaken isn't there a federal tax deduction for volunteering?
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Permalink Reply by Andrew on
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I'm sorry, Ralph, but every time I read your responses they're generally negative. Just keep that in mind.
As for tax write-offs: I suggest going to a professional to get maximum refunds. I attempted to write some of my lights off as they are for a volunteer organization. I didn't expect to get that much back, but in today's rough times anything truly helps. I also wrote off some tools that I got.
Some people need to keep in mind that we are VOLUNTEERING to do this. But just because we're volunteering doesn't mean we don't deserve some incentives. I mean, come on, we're essentially saying we're willing to run out of our houses at 3AM to run in your burning house, tend to your MVA, or even tend to the 89-year-old lady that called in because she hasn't had a bowel movement in 48 hours. I believe volunteers deserve something for their time, even if it is a little tax write off.
Also, keep in mind that such incentives as tax write offs make the fire service more appealing to outsiders. I don't know about you guys, but where I volunteer there are few incentives: a property tax reduction after 5 years, a small pension after 20 years, and some discounts at some local stores. But other than that it's pretty much going to be a good neighbor.
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