mrreliab Jan 6th, 2011
I’m assuming your “advisor” is a person from the direct sales company. They’re notorious for making up tax law. pulling it from where the sun don’t shine, and convincing their sales force of things that aren’t true. It’s an attempt to make the activity more attractive to the bottom rung of the pyramid than it really is.
No, you can’t take those deductions.
Take these court cases, for example. Ask your advisor about Nicks vs. Commissioner. Yes, that’s Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. She deducted expenses for her on-stage apparel, which is pretty elaborate and not something you’d expect to see on the street every day. The IRS disallowed the deduction, and more importantly, Tax Court upheld the IRS denial, even though with perspiration, etc., the clothing was not usable for more than one show. No deduction.
There was also a member of Elton John’s band who wrote off expenses for clothing that was wild. The IRS disallowed the expense, and Tax Court upheld the no deduction finding.
The standard is whether an expense is “inherently personal.” Haircuts and nails are inherently personal
http://www.banswers.com/can-i-claim-...ness-on-taxes/