Parking ticket as business expense?

I got a parking ticket while visiting a client. Can I put the cost of the ticket as a business expense?

I would say no, Because it's not the client's fault that you parked in the wrong area :P

If you were doing something for the client then yes, but since you were trying to acquire the client, than no. Thats like someone telling their employer to pay them for the gas it took to apply for the job

What was the ticket for?

Do you work for a company?

I was not supposed to park there because it was "street cleaning" during those hours. I do freelance web design, so I was there taking some photos for a client to put on a website.

I did some more research and I agree that the answer is in general "no, can not claim as business expense". The reason is that this cost is "not necessary" for the production of income. I other words, it was not necessary for me to park illegally. However, if I parked legally in a paid lot, then I can expense the parking cost.

You just shouldn't have parked there, simple as that really.

If you didnt see the sign, gutted - not much you can do :/ if you did see it and you still parked, then ... your stupid. You can't pin that ticket on your client lol.

How much was the ticket for?

Originally Posted by Kristien If you were doing something for the client then yes, but since you were trying to acquire the client, than no. Thats like someone telling their employer to pay them for the gas it took to apply for the job

Not true at all. You can in fact write off gas when doing business. If you couldn't write off things when acquiring a client, you couldn't write off much. Ever heard of advertising expenses?

Artcoder, seek the advise of an accountant.

Originally Posted by WebFire Artcoder, seek the advise of an accountant.

Yea, they'd laugh at him for an hour .. then tell him no .. then charge him for the hour-long consultation ...

If you had to pay to park there, you can write off the expense. But, parking there illegally, and getting ticketed for it, no. Why should the client fit the bill for his disregard?

Originally Posted by WebFire Not true at all. You can in fact write off gas when doing business. If you couldn't write off things when acquiring a client, you couldn't write off much. Ever heard of advertising expenses? Artcoder, seek the advise of an accountant.

maybe you should read what he said, if you got apply for a job, you don't tell the employer that you want gas reimbursement for the interview/job application, do you? no. and what a waste to seek advice from an accountant. you can't deduct a ticket cause of your own foolishness, unless they say, park here.