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January 15, 2008

Legislature may prohibit gambling-loss deductions

Just in time for Maryland slots -- House Bill 46, which would prohibit Marylanders from deducting gambling losses on their state income-tax return. You can deduct "wagering losses" on your federal return, but only to the extent that you itemize and had wagering income. This bill, sponsored by Prince George's Democrat Justin Ross, would require Marylanders to add gambling losses back to their reported state income. So if you win $2,000 at the slots in February and lose $3,000 in March, you would still have to pay Maryland income tax on $2,000. Hmm.

Posted by Jay Hancock at 5:43 PM | | Comments (1)
        

Comments

That is so unfair. It's almost impossible to win more than you lose. No matter how much one have won, they have most likely lost a lot more than that. And what if you lose everything you have? Then on top of that you owe taxes for a little bit you have won one day?

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About Jay Hancock
Jay Hancock has been a financial columnist for The Baltimore Sun since 2001. He has also been The Baltimore Sun's diplomatic correspondent in Washington and its chief economics writer. Before moving to Baltimore in 1994 he worked for The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk and The Daily Press of Newport News.

His columns appear Wednesdays and Fridays.
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