Tax Deductions Simplified

— -- Sorry folks, but these are not deductions.

With personal finance, some expenses you might think are reasonable deductions are not acceptable, according to Don Roberts of the Internal Revenue Service.

On the list of no-no's, "burial and funeral expenses, fees and licenses, such as for your car, for your dog, or a marriage license, home repairs, insurance for your home," said Roberts.

He also says you cannot deduct personal legal expenses, commuting expenses, club dues or checking account bank fees. But you can deduct the cost of a safe deposit box at the bank to hold tax records.

Work expenses can qualify, but if it's a personal computer used at night or on weekends to catch up on work Roberts said that's not going to meet the test.

"It has to be required as a condition of employment. The employers say, you know, you have to have this equipment to do your work. I'm not going to be able to provide it to you," said Roberts. "But you're gonna have to have it."

To get the full deduction in the purchase year you must use your computer more than half of the time for business, and you should keep records of your usage.

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