Sherlock and the ATO

[Rodgera]

A stockbroker received notice from the ATO that he was being audited.
He showed up at the appointed time and place with all his financial
records, then sat for what seemed like hours as the accountant pored over them.

Finally the ATO agent looked up and commented, "You must have been a
tremendous fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle."

"Why would you say that?" replied the broker.

"Because you've made more brilliant deductions on your last three
returns than Sherlock Holmes made in his entire career."

[rrich]

LOL!

Many years ago I had moved across state lines for a new job. I was doing my taxes and wanted to know how/if I could deduct the cost of certain tools related to the process of moving and selling the old home.

I called the IRS for help. The help line guy admitted that he didn't know. He got a auditor to help. The auditor told me how to do the deduction as well as the specific rules for the depreciation of the tool. Then after insuring that I fully understood the process, he told me that it was a brilliant deduction and that he never thought of it.