how to take advantage of tax deductions??

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There are plenty of tax deductions out there just waiting to be found. The problem is that many people simply take the standard deductions and miss a lot of the potential deductions available that they might have found by itemizing. Essentially, there are two overriding themes to tax deductions. First, most tax deductions center around those areas that are the necessities of life, such as medical costs, buying a home, having children, earning a living, getting an education and helping people less fortunate than yourself. The second basic premise of a tax deduction is that it is a reasonable expense within the deductible category. Below are some areas to consider when looking for deductions. It is worthwhile to review these carefully and make sure you are within the IRS guidelines. Then, you should review them with your accountant. Software programs like TurboTax, among others, can help you determine what is and is not deductible. Review your medical expenses. They need to total at least 7.5 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) in order for you to take the medical expense deduction. This includes more than doctor and dentist visits. You can deduct medical-related expenses that exceed those covered by your insurance plan or are not accepted by your insurance plan. For example, glasses, contact lenses, braces, false teeth, lab fees, emergency room visits, travel to and from medical treatments, medical supplies and laser surgery are all potential medical deduct