Re: Tax deductions

**"Carol Wallace, Ph.D." gardenwriter@mindspring.com>**

GeraldB571@aol.com wrote:

>Debra:
>
>I deduct many of mine--which I should do according to my tax man. For 
>instance when I travel to the packtrials, to botanical gardens, to growers 
>field trials, to flower shows, I deduct those expenses. When I plant, 
>renovate, buy seeds or plants for, those spots which I will evntually use for 
>photos I deduct those expenses.
>
>However, when my wife tells me I should plant this or that where she wants 
>it, I do as I'm told but don't deduct those expenses.
>
Gerald describes my own feelings about what to deduct or not. I rarely 
deduct a plant I just happened to fall in love with. But if I buy it to 
make a certain type of grouping for photographs it;s deductible. I use 
several photos every week for my column so most of my garden is fair 
game. Right now, as part of my book research I am planting a dark garden 
and all of those plants are deductible. But I did not deduct the brick 
pavers with which we finished off the main garden. While they make the 
place look nicer, and certain make photos prettier, they aren't research 
and unless I plan a column on weeds between crevices (something I could 
write using our front walk as an example without going to the expense of 
paving) I can't justify deducting them.

They key seems to be photos, but not necessarily. If I am writing about 
a certain type of plant, with or without illustrations, I feel much 
better if I am also growing that plant and can speak through personal 
experience about it's foibles. It may look great in the garden but it is 
also part of my research.
Carol

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