Not sure about deducting job-seeking costs

[seekr]

I spent 7 months to find my current job and I incurred some expenses. Please help me make sure they are valid to be deducted as job-seeking costs.

1) I paid for Udacity subscription, which was teaching resume and cover letter building in the US, how to prepare for interviews, organized meetings with employers - $1600

2) Linked In Premium Job Seeker subscription - helps communicate directly with recruiters and see who viewed your profile - $30

3) Public Transportation costs to/from Job interviews - $92

4) Business cards printing - $10

Do you think all these are valid job-seeking costs and can be deducted?

Thank you.

[IsabellaG · Accepted solution]

See this link for the IRS discussion of job-seeking expenses:https://www.irs.gov/uac/job-search-expenses-can-be-tax-deductible

Keep in mind you can only deduct expenses you incur in seeking a job in your current occupation, not for a new occupation or for your first job. If you qualify, the expenses that you show would qualify for the deduction, as long as you can establish that the Udacity course was for resume preparation and job seeking skills.

[seekr]

Thank you Isabella!
Yes it's the same occupation (the reason I was looking for a new job is because I moved from another country to the US). It's not my first job ever, but first job in the US. Is this ok?

The Udacity course was for technical skills too, but I used only "career" part of the course during 2016 (resume and cover letter preparation, interviewing skills, typical interview topics in my field). I used the same course for technical refresh / certification in 2015 (this wasn't used for changing profession or field of occupation).

[IsabellaG]

You still wouldn't be changing professions even if you would be working in the US for the first time, so it's not for a new occupation.

[seekr]

Ok, thank you very much for your help!

[IsabellaG]

You're welcome!