You can't reduce your gambling winnings by your gambling losses and report the difference. Rather, you report the full amount of your winnings as income and claim your losses (up to the amount of. You can't reduce your gambling winnings ($500) by your gambling losses ($400) and only report the difference ($100) as income. If you itemize, you can claim a $400 deduction for your losses, but. You can write off gambling losses as a miscellaneous itemized deduction. While miscellaneous deductions subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income floor are not allowed for 2018 through 2025 under the TCJA, the deduction for gambling losses isn’t subject to that floor. So gambling losses are still deductible.

With all the changes in the new tax law, you may not know what expenses you’re still allowed to deduct. Fortunately, we have you covered. Here is a list of tax deductions you may have thought got the axe but are still available for your 2018 tax return.

When Can You Write Off Gambling Losses

Medical Expenses

You Can Deduct Gambling Losses (If You Itemize) Although you must list all your winnings on your tax return, you don't necessarily have to pay tax on the full amount. You are allowed to list your annual gambling losses as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on Schedule A of your tax return. While the IRS does not have a gambling losses tax, it does allow for you to deduct gambling losses on your tax return in the form of a miscellaneous deduction. To deduct your losses from gambling, you will need to: Claim your gambling losses on Form 1040, Schedule A as Other Miscellaneous Deduction (line 28) that is not subject to the 2% limit.

The medical expense tax deduction is still available and will increase to 10 percent of your adjusted gross income. Qualifying medical expenses include doctor bills, prescriptions, insurance premiums under certain circumstances, newborn expenses, related travel expenses and more. You can even deduct the cost of service animals including purchase, training, feeding, grooming and veterinary care.

Gambling Losses

Gambling losses can still be included as miscellaneous tax deductions, but the definition of gambling losses has been broadened to include other expenses related to gambling activities, such as travel to and from a casino or track. You can only deduct losses up to the amount of your winnings, so any excess loss can’t offset other highly taxed income.

According to the IRS, taxpayers must compile the following in a log or other record:

• The date and type of each wager or wagering activity.
• The name and location of the gambling establishment.
• The names of any other person accompanying you to the gambling establishment.
• The amount you won or lost.

Alimony and Legal Fees

Alimony payments made under divorce or separation instruments that are executed after December 31, 2018 will no longer be deductible, and recipients of affected alimony payments will no longer have to include them in taxable income. But if your divorce was executed before the cut off, alimony is still deductible. Divorce-related legal fees may also be deductible by the party seeking alimony if the legal fees are incurred while disputing alimony rights.

Home Office Deduction

You may still be able to deduct some expenses for the business use of your home if there is a part of it that you use regularly and exclusively for work. To qualify, your home must also be your principal place of business, so even daycare providers and certain other businesses may take this deduction.

Health Savings Account Contributions

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is funded with pre-tax money, so it can still create tax deductions plus potential retirement savings. That money can be used tax-free for qualifying healthcare expenses, such as doctor visits, dental work, eyeglasses and more. HSA contribution limits will rise to $3,500 for individuals and $7,000 for families, and those 55 or older can contribute an additional $1,000. You’ll still need to have a qualifying high-deductible health insurance plan to contribute to an HSA, and you generally must not have any other health coverage.

Can You Write Off Gambling Losses

No matter how the new tax laws affect your tax situation, ezTaxReturn can help you maximize your deductions and receive the biggest tax refund possible. The whole process is quick and easy as we ask about life events and other relevant information to help you take advantage of every credit and deduction the law allows.

It’s been a while since I’ve listed out the bad states for gamblers. Here’s an updated list. Make sure you read the notes because while all of these states have tax systems that are problematic for gamblers, some impact amateurs while others impact professionals. Note that I do not cover the laws that impact gambling here (such as Washington State’s law that makes online gambling a Class C felony).

Connecticut [1]
Hawaii [2]
Illinois [1]
Indiana [1]
Massachusetts [1]
Michigan [1]
Minnesota [3]
Mississippi [4]
New York [5]
Ohio [6]
Washington [7]
West Virginia [1]
Wisconsin [1]

NOTES:

1. CT, IL, IN, MA, MI, WV, and WI do not allow gambling losses as an itemized deduction. These states’ income taxes are written so that taxpayers pay based (generally) on their federal Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). AGI includes gambling winnings but does not include gambling losses. Thus, a taxpayer who has (say) $100,000 of gambling winnings and $100,000 of gambling losses will owe state income tax on the phantom gambling winnings. (Michigan does exempt the first $300 of gambling winnings from state income tax.)

2. Hawaii has an excise tax (the General Excise and Use Tax) that’s thought of as a sales tax. It is, but it is also a tax on various professions. A professional gambler is subject to this 4% tax (an amateur gambler is not).

3. Minnesota’s state Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) negatively impacts amateur gamblers. Because of the design of the Minnesota AMT, amateur gamblers with significant losses effectively cannot deduct those losses.

4. Mississippi only allows Mississippi gambling losses as an itemized deduction.

5. New York has a limitation on itemized deductions. If your AGI is over $500,000, you lose 50% of your itemized deductions (including gambling losses). You begin to lose itemized deductions at an AGI of $100,000.

6. Ohio currently does not allow gambling losses as an itemized deduction. However, effective January 1, 2013, gambling losses will be allowed as a deduction on state income tax returns. Unfortunately, those gambling losses will not be deductible on city or school district income tax returns, so Ohio will remain a bad state for amateur gamblers.

Can I Write Off Gambling Losses In 2019

7. Washington state has no state income tax. However, the state does have a Business & Occupations Tax (B&O Tax). The B&O Tax has not been applied toward professional gamblers, but my reading of the law says that it could be at any time.