Skip to main content
April 18, 2020
Solved

LEGAL EXPENSES PAID AS PART OF A EMPLOYMENT SETTLEMENT

  • April 18, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

I recently revisited my 2018 Federal Tax filing. I came back to it as a result of reviewing why my legal fees incurred as part of a  successful settlement are not deemed to be tax deductible even though a 1/3 settlement check was cut directly to my attorney and was taken off my net settlement check.

 

I would assume that my attorney reported it as Business Income and subsequently paid income taxes on it. 

 

Isn't that double taxation?  

Best answer by RobertG

Legal fees used to be deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction.

 

Most of the miscellaneous itemized deductions were eliminated starting with 2018 returns. 

 

So it is currently treated as a personal and nondeductible expense. 

1 reply

RobertG
RobertGAnswer
April 20, 2020

Legal fees used to be deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction.

 

Most of the miscellaneous itemized deductions were eliminated starting with 2018 returns. 

 

So it is currently treated as a personal and nondeductible expense. 

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post**Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"