Can I deduct lawyer fees for divorce/alimony received?

[jerry2000]

No. That is not deductible.
IRS Pub. 529, Miscellaneous Deductions,
https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p529.pdf
List of Non-Deductible expenses starts on page 14
Divorce is on page 16.

[beebles21]

thank you for your response.  Even if lawyer was used to obtain taxable income (ie alimony)?

[jerry2000]

Read IRS Pub. 529 It says that legal fees for divorce are not deductible.

[beebles21]

thank you. I did look at it and it mentions if greater than 2% of net income.  Lawyer fees were 10k salary was 50k

[jerry2000]

You should look at the list of items that are not deductible. Legal fees for divorce are in that list. Doesn't matter what % of agi they are. Carefully read the list of non-deductible expenses and read the part about divorce. Fees for that are not deductible no matter what % of agi they are.

[beebles21]

thanks.  I did look at the list.  divorce is not deductible, I understand.  But why does it say that you can claim the lawyer fees when lawyer is used for obtaining alimony? alimony was also part of the divorce.  Sorry to be a pain but it is confusing how you cant use it for divorce but can claim for alimony. without a lawyer I would NOT have received alimony.  thanks!