TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS

This time of year you may be thinking about sending holiday gifts to your editors. If so, there are a few things to keep in mind. The tax deduction for business-related gifts is limited to $25 per person. Such gifts should never be personal in nature--such as clothing or jewelry. Appropriate gifts are things like pens, books, or food items. I send tins of homemade fudge. You will likely want to limit such gifts to book editors, agents, or related people, or magazine editors you write for on a regular basis--such as those you write a column for or sell to regularly. I send to my agent, book editor (who negotiated the contract), editor who oversees the editing process on the guide, editor who does the line editing, and the person who handles my book orders during the year.