HOBBY WINNINGS

Q. Last year I was pretty lucky at golf. I actually won $2,800 in cash and about $4,000 in clubs, shoes, and golf clothes. Someone told me that this was taxable. Tell me it is not so.

A. Sorry, bad news. You must report your winnings on your income tax return.

Since this is most likely considered a hobby rather than a business, you would report winnings as “other income” on line 21 on your federal form 1040. If that’s the case, you can claim deductions – like entry fees, equipment, lessons, and other related expenses against your winnings but only if you itemize. This would be under the classification of “miscellaneous itemized deductions” on your Schedule A. Those miscellaneous itemized deductions are limited to those in excess of 2% of your AGI (adjusted gross income).

Additionally, if you treat golf as a hobby, your deductions are limited to the amount of your winnings. You also can’t carry excess deductions forwards or backwards.

In summary, the income is taxable and any deductions you have are only good if you itemize and if your miscellaneous deductions are greater than 2% of your adjusted gross income (found on the bottom of page one of your 1040).