Can I write off Karate lessons on my taxes if I work in private security?

So I've been thinking about potential tax write-offs for my job. I work as a private security contractor doing overnight patrols at various commercial sites. I recently started taking Karate lessons twice a week at a local dojo, partly for personal interest but also because I think it could be useful for my work. My question is whether these Karate courses would qualify as a legitimate business expense that I could deduct on my taxes? I'm paying about $175 a month for these lessons. I remembered that my uncle used to deduct his gym membership when he worked as a bouncer back in the day, and I'm wondering if this falls into a similar category. The skills I'm learning could potentially help me in confrontational situations, though thankfully those are rare in my line of work. Any insights on whether this would fly with the IRS would be super appreciated! Thanks in advance for any advice :

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18 comments

Julia Hall

•8M

While I understand the connection you're trying to make between your Karate lessons and your security job, this would likely be a tough sell to the IRS. Generally, for something to be deductible as a business expense, it needs to be "ordinary and necessary" for your profession. The problem with Karate lessons is that they have significant personal benefit beyond your work, and the IRS tends to scrutinize these types of expenses carefully. Think of it this way - if your employer isn't requiring these lessons specifically for your job, and if they have value to you outside of work (like general fitness, personal development, or recreational value), the IRS will likely view this as primarily personal in nature. Your uncle's situation with gym memberships would actually face the same scrutiny today - those generally aren't deductible either, even for physically demanding jobs, because they have significant personal benefit.

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Julia Hall

•8M

That's a better scenario, but still challenging. An employer suggestion helps your case but doesn't guarantee deductibility. The IRS distinguishes between formal requirements and casual suggestions. Without formal documentation stating this training is required for your position, you'd still face an uphill battle. Even with employer documentation, the IRS might still question the deduction because of the significant personal benefit. Your best approach would be to ask your employer to pay for the training directly or establish a formal reimbursement program if they truly value this skill for your position.

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Jade Lopez

•8M

I've been down this road before with tax document questions and found this AI service called taxr.ai that really helped me figure out what's deductible for my security consulting business. I was trying to deduct all kinds of expenses that seemed work-related (like my home security system) and wasn't sure what would trigger an audit. Using https://taxr.ai to analyze my situation saved me from making some risky deductions. They have specific expertise on professional development deductions for different industries, including security work. Might be worth checking them out for your specific situation.

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Jade Lopez

•8M

The service works by analyzing your specific situation, not just giving generic advice. You upload your tax documents and describe your circumstances, and their AI analyzes everything to give personalized recommendations for your exact situation. It's definitely more useful than Google searches because it applies tax rules specifically to your individual case. And while a real accountant is great, they're expensive for quick questions. This is more like having on-demand tax expertise without the hourly fees. It flagged several deductions in my case that would have been questionable, including some professional development expenses that were too personal in nature.

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Ella rollingthunder87

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I was skeptical at first about taxr.ai but ended up trying it after posting my question. Turns out my situation with deducting certification courses for security consulting was more complex than I thought. The service helped me understand the difference between qualified professional education expenses versus personal development. They even provided proper documentation requirements I would need if audited. Saved me from making a $1,300 deduction that probably would've been rejected. Definitely different from just searching online since it analyzed my specific situation and past tax history.

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Yara Campbell

•8M

If you're seriously considering taking the deduction, you might also need to call the IRS to get an official ruling. I tried for WEEKS to get through to someone about a similar business expense question for my work as a private investigator. Eventually I found https://claimyr.com and watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c). They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes after I'd been trying for days. The agent clarified exactly what documentation I would need for my professional development expenses. Huge relief to get a definitive answer directly from the source instead of guessing.

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Yara Campbell

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The service works by using specialized technology that navigates the IRS phone system efficiently and holds your place in line. They don't have special IRS connections - they just optimize the calling process and notify you when you're about to be connected, saving you from waiting on hold for hours. I was skeptical too before trying it. I literally spent 4 hours on hold one day and never got through. With Claimyr, I was doing other work and got a notification when an agent was about to pick up. It's not free, but considering I was able to continue working instead of listening to hold music for hours, it was completely worth it for me.

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Maya Diaz

•8M

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. I actually tried Claimyr today after getting frustrated with another 45+ minute hold time with the IRS. Got connected in about 15 minutes. The IRS agent confirmed that for my situation (I work as a firearms instructor), certain specialized training could be deductible if I maintain specific documentation showing direct connection to my current income-generating activities. Still doesn't help OP with karate classes that are general in nature, but for anyone needing to actually talk to the IRS about these questions, this service actually does work. Consider me surprised.

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Tami Morgan

•8M

Just wanted to add that I'm an independent contractor in executive protection, and I've gone through this exact issue. The key distinction the IRS makes is whether the training is maintaining existing skills versus acquiring new skills. Maintaining existing skills you already use in your current profession is more likely deductible. Acquiring new skills to expand your expertise often isn't. My specialized Krav Maga training was denied as a deduction because I couldn't prove it was "ordinary and necessary" for my specific security contracts, even though it seemed logical to me.

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Tami Morgan

•8M

Uniforms are typically deductible if they're required for your job and not suitable for everyday wear. So generic black pants probably wouldn't qualify, but a shirt with a security company logo would. Equipment like flashlights, specialized boots, and other gear is generally deductible if it's specifically required for your security work and not something you'd use outside of work. Keep all receipts and document how each item is used specifically for work purposes. Small items under $200 can often be fully deducted in the year purchased, while more expensive equipment might need to be depreciated over several years.

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