7 Completely Crazy and Weird Tax Deductions the IRS Actually Says are Legit

It has been said that the only two things that are certain in life are death and taxes. What isn’t certain is how those taxes work and what form they come in.

America, in particular, has developed a very confusing tax code. The main result of this is aspirin sales skyrocketing once per year.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, and in this case, that involves laughing at some very unusual tax deductions. In the paragraphs below, we’ll break down some of the strangest tax deductions that it turns out are legitimate.

1. Whaling

According to a 2004 case, if you make your living as a whaler, you could deduct up to $10,000 for the upkeep and maintenance of your boat and equipment.

The problem is that unless you are a Native American, whaling has been illegal since 1986.

2. Breast Enlargement

Another strange claim, this time filed in 1988, was filed by a stripper trying to claim breast augmentation as a business expense. Her claim was initially denied, but the tax courts overturned this decision and allowed her to write off the surgery.

3. Defensive Legal Fees

It makes sense that you can deduct legal fees if you are suing someone else, but did you know that you can deduct legal fees, in certain cases, if you are the one being sued?

Keep in mind that not all defensive, or even prosecution fees, can be deducted. For instance, if you’re getting divorced, it’s considered a personal expense and you have to pay for it yourself.

However, if the case is against your business or the lawsuit involves some sort of medical issue, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to deduct your legal fees.

4. Beer

Most of us are familiar with the concept of a loyalty rewards program. Back in 1982, a gas station decided to create its own form of rewards program by offering free beer to loyal customers. The result was one of the most unusual tax deductions in history.

Though this was certainly a horrible idea for a rewards program, the ethics of giving away beer to drivers buying gas was not the issue at stake. The issue was whether basically anything can count as a loyalty rewards program if it is being used as one. The answer, apparently, was yes, and the gas station owner was allowed to write off the beer as a business expense.

5. Animals

The idea of animals as tax deductions is one that has come up quite a lot over the years, and it turns out that there are a lot of instances where you can deduct certain animal-related expenses.

One of the main conditions has to do with whether or not the animal has any business-related purpose. For instance, one case involved a guard dog. Another allowed for the deduction of cat food because the cats were being used to keep rats away from the business.

It seems like every day we find more amazing things animals can do for us.

6. Body Oil

Believe it or not, body oil has actually been deducted as a business expense. A professional bodybuilder once wrote off body oil, claiming that it helped him win bodybuilding competitions, thus ensuring that his business–himself–was more profitable. The claim was declared legitimate.

7. Bribes

If the real cost of American taxes and tax services wasn’t enough, let’s examine a tax law from Germany.

Bribery in Germany can technically be written off on taxes. All you have to do is release your name and the official that you bribed. The problem is that while bribery is tax deductible, it’s also illegal.

Anybody who is involved in bribery, whether they are paying it or accepting it, is criminally liable.

Unusual Tax Deductions: Wrapping Up

Taxes aren’t fun, but they can be funny, at least in hindsight. From beer to body oil, people have claimed some unusual tax deductions, and we haven’t even covered all of them. There are crazy tax laws still out there waiting for you, should you choose to explore further.

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