a tax question

[Jim Devine <jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

from SLATE:
> The NY [Times] passes along an interesting question put to the IRS last
> year and an even more amazing answer. The question: "My child has been
> kidnapped. Can I still take [him [or her] as] a deduction on my income tax
> return?" The agency's reply: "Only for the year in which the child was
> abducted." The bright side, adds the Times: ransom is always deductible.

Jim Devine jdevine@xxxxxxx &  http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~jdevine