Forbes.com reports that Lamar Odom has filed suit against the Internal Revenue Service for slapping him with an $87,000 bill over $180,000 in tax deductions. In question are $12,000 worth of fines paid by LO and another $178,000 in “sports fitness fees”.
Yeah, you read right. Odom is writing off his league and team sanctioned fines in addition to his yoga instructor. Ok, so specifically we don’t know what exactly Odom deems to be “fitness” related but I’m guessing there is some sort of specialty instructor or diet guru involved in this somehow. What is also unclear is what Lamar was fined for by either the NBA or the Los Angeles Lakers.
What’s even better is Lamar hasn’t hired an attorney, instead choosing to represent himself. Maybe Odom is putting those Kardashian connections to good use by tapping the family’s lengthy legal expertise.
Forbes points out Odom’s attempts to find a few legal loopholes in the taxation of fines and fitness related expenses.
"Federal law generally prohibits tax deductions for financial sanctions resulting from criminal cases and matters like traffic violations. But Odom wrote, “The fines imposed by the team and the NBA are not imposed for the violation of any government law and are therefore not specifically excluded.”On the same reasoning, Odom, now 31, also attacked an IRS decision not to allow taxpayers in effect to subsidize his efforts as a pro athlete to stay fit. “The taxpayer claimed $178,337 of employee business expenses for professional training and conditioning,” he wrote. “The taxpayer’s employment contract requires that the taxpayer be in sufficient physical condition that allows him to perform as a professional basketball player throughout the basketball season.”"
Best of luck fighting the law, Lamar. If things don’t workout you can always call in Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade to come to your defense.