Question: Should a Police Officer seek the help of a professional tax preparer, especially one who is familiar with filing tax returns on behalf of law enforcement personnel? Answer: Yes.
It is very wise for a career police officer and/or a public safety official to develop a long-term business relationship with a professional tax preparer who is experienced in filing tax returns on behalf of law enforcement personnel, especially if that tax preparer is familiar with all of the job related deductions that the individual is legally entitled.
The Magic of IRS Schedule A
Schedule A (Form 1040) offers a lot of tax incentives for police officers if they own a home and are thorough in documenting their miscellaneous deductions. In 2014, a married couple is allowed $11,400 as a standard deduction. A single person is allowed $5,700 as a standard deduction. A police officer can use Schedule A for work related deductions such as uniforms and equipment. Uniform and equipment deductions are permitted if the dollar value is above the amount of the given allowance and/or expenditure of the items. If an officer can produce his dry cleaning receipts, the cost of cleaning his police uniform is also a tax-deductible expense.
Other allowable deductions are union dues, a safe deposit box, attending a three day work related educational seminar for example in San Diego, or Las Vegas where your entire airfare and hotel accommodations are deductible and 50 percent of your meals are deductible. A police officer is permitted to deduct the cost of one off-duty hand gun per year. The equipment for that off duty personal gun such as the holster, ankle or shoulder, and the bullets for the gun are also tax deductible. A police officers transportation costs to their normal work station from home is not tax deductible. However, if a police officer is not going to their normal work station, e.g to testify in court or attend a parole hearing and they are driving from home, then the cost of transportation is a normal business expense, usually computed according to mileage. The key to effectively using Schedule A is in keeping good records and receipts.
