5 Absurd (UnHealthy) Tax Deductions

Get your W-2s, 1099s and 1040s ready. April 15th is right around the corner!

Unfortuntely Health Club Memberships are not tax-deductible (in most cases); however, Congress has found plenty of ways to reward those that engage in unhealthy activitives.

Here are the Top 5 Absurd (UnHealthy) Tax Deductions




1. Promote Child Obesity! "Did you know that we're actually giving tax deductions out to big companies that go ahead and advertise and market products that contribute to childhood obesity?", asked Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), when he challenged Congress to end all tax deductions associated with the marketing of junk food to children, and said this proposal should be part of the final plan to avoid the fiscal cliff. (Cost: $3 Billion)

2. Get More Cars on the Road! The government gives tax credits of up to $7,500 for plug-in hybrids, all-electric, and other types of exotic automobiles. While encouraging energy efficiency is in the national interest, why give such a big break for car? There are other, even some healthy, ways to save the environment, such as taking public transport, or biking to work. There aren't many breaks for those things. (Cost: $200 million.)

3. Kill Whales! Since 2004, captains of whaling boats can deduct up to $10,000 for repairs, equipment purchases, and other expenses associated with their businesses.

4. Party Like a Rock-Star! Breaks for boozing with clients at restaurants, theaters and stadium sky-boxes have contributed to the meteoric rise of sports ticket prices at palatial arenas. (Cost: $5 billion.)

5. Corn-based Junk! Ethanol, the fuel made from corn, does not even come close to competing with traditional gasoline on price. So taxpayers give farming businesses up to 45 cents per gallon in subsidies. The making of the fuel takes valuable farmland out of food production, raising supermarket prices for meat and grains, while consuming vast amounts of tractor fuel and fertilizer. Last year The United Nations called for a suspension of U.S. government-mandated ethanol output amid surging corn prices. (Cost: $5.7 billion.)
If you feel that Congress should reward taxpayers for healthy behavior instead please sign the petition to Make Health Club Memberships Tax-Deductible.