Dog Health Questions: Tax write off: I'm a Dog Trainer what can I write off?

Ok I'm a Full Time Dog Trainer for PetSmart. I have a few things I'm wondering what I can write off.
1) my adopted dog who came from a shelter
$300 donation to the shelter
2)Besides the $300 to adopt her. I donate money from my paycheck every week.
I heard you have to donate X amount of income before you can write it off. Whats the X amount?
3) Her supplies for upkeep.
Health, Grooming, food etc I've kept all receipts
4)I've bought many books, magazines and newsletters about dogs and dog training.

So i was wondering which things i could write and what i can.

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Recommended Answer:
Your dog and all the costs associated with her are not deductible under any circumstance. It doesn't matter if you use her as a demo dog, that would be stretching it. Expenses you pay out of pocket that are related to your employment and over 2% of your adjusted gross income are deductible on schedule A as Miscellaneous Itemized deductions. Charitable contributions deducted from your paycheck are deductible on schedule A as well. If you don't itemize your deductions then, of course, the question is moot.

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• If you donate money to a charity with your paycheck, that is deductible. None of the expenses are deductible because you can enjoy the dog on your own and she isn't just a business expense. The books, magazines, and periodicals could be deductible as a miscellaneous deduction. The amount that is deductible is over 2% of your AGI though.
  
  All of these only matter if you itemize your deductions though so you have to have more than the standard deduction between all your deductions or it isn't worth it.


• So far nothing.
  
  PS you can't deduct the donation to the charity when you got the dog as you received something in return.
  
  PPS, the books are not going to change your taxes. They would have to go in the misc section of the schedule A and then reduce the total by 2% of your AGI and if anything is left over, you still have to itemize.


• I agree with most of the other answers except personally I would give you the cost of the dog as a deduction because it was for business purposes.
  
  Though, like everyone else has said, none of it matters if you dont have enough deductions to itemize.


• Pet supplies and other expenses for your personal pets are never tax deductible.