Waterford, MI asked in DUI / DWI and Tax Law for Michigan

Q: Tax-wise, is there a way to write off the cost of mandated drug/alcohol testing and/or fines and fees paid to the court?

I plead guilty to an OWI charge. I've paid over $2000 to the court and will be paying over $2000 in accumulated costs associated with mandatory drug and alcohol testing ordered by my probation officer. Having kept receipts, are those costs able to be deducted when doing taxes? Can I write off mileage to and from the testing location?

Related Topics:
1 Lawyer Answer
Brent T. Geers
Brent T. Geers
Answered
  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: You'll need to consult with a tax attorney or other tax professional, particularly about whether mileage is deductible. It will all obviously depend on your overall tax situation; with the raised standard deduction starting with this tax year, a lot of people who used to itemize may no longer be able to do so, which would make your question a moot point if you are one of those people.

Very generally, I am unaware of allowable deductions for fines, fees, or costs related to criminal activities.

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.