Port fees

[happywandering]

Since port fees are actually taxes is it legal/acceptable to deduct them from your  USA income taxes?

[Essiesmom]

Fees are not taxes.  Can you deduct what you pay for parking?  That’s a fee, too.  Maybe if it’s a business expense, but I doubt port fees are.  EM

[leaveitallbehind]

The short answer is no as they are a part of the cruise fare and is a charge issued to the cruise line by the international port of call in which you are visiting, and then prorated to the passengers.  And fees, as mentioned, are fees, not taxes. The tax portion is relatively quite small. 

 

Under what criteria would you be attempting to deduct this?  Not sure what gain to your income you would see by attempting to deduct a small amount of cruise related taxes, if you even legitimately could.

Edited June 12 by leaveitallbehind

[StollyBolly]

Uh, no.  

[leaveitallbehind]

4 hours ago, happywandering said:

Since port fees are actually taxes.....

Just want to add for clarity, port fees are not considered taxes.  They are two different things. As mentioned, those fees are essentially docking and occupancy fees charged to the cruise line for docking in those ports.  Taxes are just that and are a component of your cruise fare. 

 

But with recent regulations adopted by California, published total cruise fares must now also include port fees and taxes as part of that total versus as separately added line items.  On the surface without itemization through an invoice, it will be difficult to distinguish those charges.

Edited June 12 by leaveitallbehind

[chengkp75]

Well, actually there are taxes included in the "port fees and taxes", but as others have pointed out, the tax portion is not broken out from the fees.  The taxes are things like a "per person landing tax" paid for disembarking at the port.  The only non-business taxes that are deductible by the IRS are "state and local income taxes, real estate taxes, and personal property taxes", so no, a landing tax, even if paid to a foreign country, is not deductible, any more than sales tax is.

[sparks1093]

It's too bad they aren't, the taxes and fees one pays for airfare doubles the cost of the ticket but those can't be deducted, either (unless of course the entire fare is a business expense).

[Donald]

You might want to look into all the taxes you pay in America on gasoline, alcohol,  and tobacco. You will be shocked if you can get straight answers.

Edited June 14 by Donald