# Ethics question for service people, re tax deductions

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-question-for-service-people-re-tax-deductions/280830>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 20, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-question-for-service-people-re-tax-deductions/280830 "2004-12-20T18:54:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-question-for-service-people-re-tax-deductions/280830/1 "2004-12-20T18:54:52Z")

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I had painted a porch for a neighbor several months ago, in my mobile-home park. At one point I leaned against a wooden post bolted to the porch, and weakened the connection.  
Yesterday I rented an electric drill and bored a hole so I could fasten the post with another bolt. The customer did not pay me for this work; I inferred from what she said–she’s 85 and nearly blind ☹ --that I had caused the damage and I must take the loss. (She will be moving soon and has already put out a “FOR SALE”: sign.)  
Fine and dandy. But, since I should be able to deduct the rental fee for the drill from my gross income for the year, should I also deduct the cost of my labor, reckoned on the basis of what I would have charged the customer for the work had I not been at fault for the damaged post?

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**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-question-for-service-people-re-tax-deductions/280830/2 "2004-12-20T19:22:19Z")

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To make sure I’m clear, you were paid to paint this woman’s porch, but in the process of painting you damaged a post which you then repaired at no additional charge? I’d say you could definitely deduct the drill rental as a business expense, but deducting the amount you would have been paid if you hadn’t caused the damage seems pretty shaky to me. Not getting paid is not really a business expense. By that logic, you could also deduct the difference between what you think you should get paid and what you actually get paid for your work, e.g. “since I try to charge $20/hour for my work, taking that job for $10/hour cost me $10/hour in lost income”. That’s not an expense.

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**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\
**Post date:** [December 20, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ethics-question-for-service-people-re-tax-deductions/280830/3 "2004-12-20T19:25:55Z")

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> [@Giraffe](#):
>
> To make sure I’m clear, you were paid to paint this woman’s porch, but in the process of painting you damaged a post which you then repaired at no additional charge? I’d say you could definitely deduct the drill rental as a business expense, but deducting the amount you would have been paid if you hadn’t caused the damage seems pretty shaky to me. Not getting paid is not really a business expense. By that logic, you could also deduct the difference between what you think you should get paid and what you actually get paid for your work, e.g. “since I try to charge $20/hour for my work, taking that job for $10/hour cost me $10/hour in lost income”. That’s not an expense.

OK, I see what you mean.