Tax deduction for Wedding Expenses

That sounds like tax fraud but I am not a legal representative.

A quick google search just told me the only expenses you can write off are things that you donate (like if you donate your dress afterwards and get a donation receipt) or if you pay a venue fee to a non-profit that would qualify as a donation.

You definitely cannot do that.

If you are getting married in a church, the ceremony fee may be considered a charitable donation for which you could get tax credit. That also might apply to national parks. Also, if you donate anything after ceremony (i.e., dress to a non-profit, flowers to a nursing home/hospital) that may be a tax write-off.

I don't understand how this would be a thing.

I am an accountant and you cannot deduct wedding expenses. You can deduct donations so if your church counts your fee as tax deductible you can count it as a donation. If you use donations to a charity as the favors you can deduct the donation. If you donate leftover food and flowers you can get a tax deduction for the donations. However, these must be registered charities and get a receipt for the value of your donation and you can deduct them in the year you donate. Donations to a person do not count. This is also only applicable if you are itemizing because your deductions exceed the standard deduction. If you want to file your return to use the refund to pay for the expenses you can do that as soon as you get all your tax information (ie w2)

Http://www.wife.org/tax-write-offs-for-your-wedding.htm .. Thanks guys. I just did some Google myself... I know that was sounding crazy..

If your church/park/historic site venue fee is a 'donation" you can deduct part of that (the part that isn't the actual service, kinda like when you get a bonus for donating to a charity, that price gets deducted from your donation). If you buy favors from one of the sites that sells for charities, some of that can be deducted. If you donate your dress or flowers or decor, you can deduct that (but not at full price)

That is really it.

The only items you could deduct would be if your venue is a church or something like a historic park, the venue fee might be tax deductible. Also if you donate items after like your dress or flowers, that could be deducted. Catering, photography, etc would not be deductible.

If you pay the church or park, the venue fee is a payment for use of facility, not a donation. If you are paying a lot of sales tax, you can deduct either state income tax or sales tax, it might be that sales tax is greater.

@Karen, every venue is going to be different; it's a question to ask the venue director.

Elizabeth and all here commenting and reading, please get a tax expert's advice before you discourage anyone. Some wedding expenses can qualify as deductible. Turbo Tax provides some guidance on some tax write offs for your wedding:

http://blog.turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/6-tax-write-offs-for-your-wedding-5133/

Please double check on the IRS website for accurate, free and readily available information.

Sincerely,

Joy : )