On Dec 24, 10:27*am, Harlan Lunsford <hnslunsf...[at]bellsouth.netwrote:

- quote -

If the movers were unrelated business people and paid their own meal
costs they would be limited to 50% of those costs (except for an OTR
truck driver). If the customer reimbursed any part of those meal costs
he/she would get to deduct 50% of the reimbursement as a moving
expense. If the movers were relatives working only for expenses then
the person getting moved would not, in my opinion, suddenly get to
deduct 100% of the reimbursement. On the other hand, I believe it is
arguable that the 50% of meals reimbursed does continue to be a
deductible moving expense.

As I noted in my original response, none of the costs incurred to
support house hunting are deductible as moving expenses.

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Karl Magdono wrote:
- quote -

If you were in business for yourself and moving business assets, then
such moving expenses would be deductible, and meals of course subject to
the 50% rule. But in this case, your move was in connection with work,
which I take it to be as an employee.

Anyway, as you've already learned, those expenditures for parents' meals
aren't deductible anyhow.

Christmas ChEAr$,
Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

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On Dec 24, 10:27 am, Harlan Lunsford <hnslunsf...[at]bellsouth.netwrote:
- quote -

Harlan, I don't understand your point about 50% and being business
related. My move was for work.

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Bill Brown wrote:
- quote -

deductible (and why only 50% anyway? not business related), why not the
paying for a haircut for the two guys with a truck?

Christmas ChEAr$,
Harlan

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On Dec 21, 11:19*pm, Karl Magdono <kmagd...[at]yahoo.com> wrote:
- quote -

First, house hunting costs are not deductible moving expenses. So, any
payments you made to your parents (or payments or to motel rooms or
transportation for yourself) provide no tax benefit if incurred while
you were looking for a place to live.

Second, arguably the costs of your movers' meals would be 50%
deductible by you if paid by you.

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<< ------------------------------------------------------- > << The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, > << nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties > << that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts > << to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy > << are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. > << ------------------------------------------------------- >

My parents helped me move to a new city far away for work. If I pay
my for my parents' mileage when they were helping me move and look for
a new home, can I then deduct that as a moving expense?

I bought my parents their meals at restaurants while they were helping
me move and look for a new home. According to
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p521/ar02.html#d0e1163 , I can't
deduct meals for myself while traveling to my new home and searching
for a home, but can I deduct the cost of my parents' meals while we
were looking for my new home and then moving to it? Considering I
saved money and had lower expenses by using my parents' help, it
doesn't seem unreasonable to deduct expenses related to having them
help.

Thanks for your advice.