I have to totally disagree with you on the cell phone HH. You are required to have a recall. Where it would be disallowed is if you were trying to deduct calls that were charged over and above the plan minutes. As long as you stay within the plan minutes, there is no problem. There would also be a problem with you writing off your Kid Rock ringtones or drunken texting. The article you posted applies to using the phone for a business which being a military officer is not a business unless you are the owner of a become fighter pilot website.(zinger)
Just saw what you put about the internet and the weather, I said you use it for investing purposes. If you use it for flight planning, I agreed with MB. Most cell phone plans and internet plans are flat rate.
On the meals and hotels.....since when do you get your meals paid for by the gov't if you are on an out and in? And if you are on no-cost orders on a cross country.....IT IS NO COST TO GOVERNMENT.
Whoever wears their uniform as civilian clothes is an idiot.....I don't buy that at all. The IRS has guidelines on military uniforms that have prohibitions for other reasons.
You have to look at this from a reasonable man's perspective. The penalty for deducting something that the IRS comes back in the case you are audited is a disallowance of the deduction. I have an accounting degree by the way....not a CPA....but was a VITA volunteer for 4 years. Chill out. Your expert in your article says that if they are legit and substantiated to not be a wuss and take the deductions.
