Some Legitimate Dog-Related Tax Deductions You Can Actually Take!

What follows are actual tax deductions, as quoted by people "in the know" who share their take on tax write-offs as they relate to dogs.

Be sure to talk to your tax preparer regarding these or any new tax deductions and write-offs that might apply to you and your dog(s).

For starters, consider these...

#1 Moving The Family Pet As A Tax Deduction

If you are changing jobs and meet a couple of tests, you can deduct your moving expenses -- including the cost of moving your dog, cat or other pet from your old residence to your new home. Your pet -- be it a Pekingese or a python -- is treated the same as your other personal effects. Source

#2 Guard Dogs As Tax Write-Offs

In order for a dog to qualify as your company's guard dog, it helps, says Cliff Ennico (a Connecticut-based business attorney who specializes in advising small businesses and entrepreneurs), if you're a little afraid of the animal yourself (picture a Rottweiler, Pit Bull or German Shepherd). Believe it or not, this is a legit write-off if taken correctly. Source

• Expert Opinion: Ennico points out how to use it: "You'll only be able to deduct that portion of his or her total time devoted to 'guard-dog' duty."


• How to Do It Right: Though it may seem rather obvious, your dog most also be guarding your inventory. Another interesting tidbit: Though you can deduct expenses relating to the dog, you can't deduct the dog itself. But you can depreciate it over its expected lifespan as determined by a local breeder. Who would've thought?

#3 Tax Deductions For Animal Adoption Fees & Donations

Some adopters may wonder whether the "adoption fee" or "adoption donation" made to a Rescue which has 501c non-profit status can be claimed as a deductible charitable donation on the adopter's income tax return. The short answer is that an adoption fee or donation made to adopt a dog is almost certainly NOT deductible, but any additional donation made over and above the standard fee almost certainly IS deductible. Source
(more here)

#4 Pet Food Write-Offs... Under Certain Circumstances

A couple who owned a junkyard were allowed to write off the cost of cat food they set out to attract wild cats. The feral felines did more than just eat. They also took care of snakes and rats on the property, making the place safer for customers. When the case reached the Tax Court, IRS lawyers conceded that the cost was deductible. Source

#5 Seeing-Eye Dog Tax Deductions

You can include the cost of a guide dog, or animal, to be used by a vision-impaired or hearing-impaired person. You can also include the cost of care for these trained animals. Source

#6 Tax Deductions For Canine Sport Leaders

Think: show dog presenters, trial judges, dog agility trainers, among others.
A proposed income tax deduction must meet three tests:
1) Is it documented? 2) Is it business related? 3) Is it reasonable?
Source

Check out this proposal for a new tax deduction: A Pet Owners Deduction

A Word Of Warning For Entrepreneurs...
If you're taking the "home office deduction", be sure to carefully measure the portion of your office that you use solely for office work.

Tax tip from Quicken:
If you have a desk located in a family room, for example, mixing your business correspondence with your personal mail could cause the deduction to be disallowed. The IRS takes this point very seriously. They once disallowed a home office deduction because they saw a dog's bowl under the desk in a picture brought in by the taxpayer.

And be sure to talk to your tax preparer first. Otherwise, you might end up on a list of Funny Dog Deduction Stories next year!