Publication 529 - Introductory Material
Limit on itemized deductions. For 2008, if your adjusted gross income is more than $159,950 ($79,975 if you are married filing separately), you may have
to reduce the amount of certain itemized deductions, including most miscellaneous deductions. For more information and a worksheet,
see the instructions for Schedule A (Form 1040), line 29, or Schedule A (Form 1040NR), line 17.
Standard mileage rate. The 2008 rate for business use of a vehicle is 50½ cents per mile (58 ½ cents per mile after June 30, 2008).
Meals when subject to “hours of service” limits. You can deduct 80% (up from 75%) of your business-related meal expenses if you consume the meals during or incident to any
period subject to the Department of Transportation's “hours of service” limits. SeeTravel, Transportation, Meals, Entertainment, Gifts, and Local Lodging underUnreimbursed Employee Expenses, later.
Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of
missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help
bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) if you recognize a child.
This publication explains which expenses you can claim as miscellaneous itemized deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040 or Form
1040NR). You must reduce the total of most miscellaneous itemized deductions by 2% of your adjusted gross income. This publication
covers the following topics.
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Deductions subject to the 2% limit.
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Deductions not subject to the 2% limit.
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Expenses you cannot deduct.
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How to report your deductions.
Some of the deductions previously discussed in this publication are adjustments to income rather than miscellaneous deductions.
These include certain employee business expenses that must be listed on Form 2106 or 2106-EZ and some that are entered directly
on Form 1040. Those deductions, which are discussed in Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses, include
employee business expenses of officials paid on a fee basis and performing artists.
Note.
Generally, nonresident aliens are allowed miscellaneous itemized deductions to the extent they are directly related to effectively
connected income.
You must keep records to verify your deductions. You should keep receipts, canceled checks, substitute checks, financial account
statements, and other documentary evidence. For more information on recordkeeping, see Publication 552, Recordkeeping for
Individuals.
Comments and suggestions.
We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.
You can write to us at the following address:
Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6526
Washington, DC 20224
We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number,
including the area code, in your correspondence.
You can email us at
*taxforms@irs.gov. (The asterisk must be included in the address.) Please put “
Publications Comment” on the subject line. Although we cannot respond individually to each email, we do appreciate your feedback and will consider
your comments as we revise our tax products.
Ordering forms and publications.
Visit
www.irs.gov/formspubs to download forms and publications, call 1-800-829-3676, or write to the address below and receive a response within 10 days
after your request is received.
National Distribution Center
Internal Revenue Service
1201 N. Mitsubishi Motorway
Bloomington, IL 61705-6613
Tax questions.
If you have a tax question, check the information available on
www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. We cannot answer tax questions sent to either of the addresses on this page.
Useful Items - You may want to see:
Publication
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463
Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses
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525
Taxable and Nontaxable Income
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535
Business Expenses
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587
Business Use of Your Home (Including Use by Daycare Providers)
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946
How To Depreciate Property
Form (and Instructions)
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Schedule A (Form 1040)
Itemized Deductions
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2106
Employee Business Expenses
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2106-EZ
Unreimbursed Employee Business Expenses
See How To Get Tax Help near the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and forms.
