Harry Gross: Can he get a tax break for being in jail?

Dear Harry:

I am incarcerated. We had an income-tax discussion last week in which a fellow inmate told us that every penny we spend in the commissary here is deductible on our federal income-tax returns. This applies to everything we buy, even candy bars, he said. He sounded so sure of himself that I was delegated to contact you to find out if this is so. Of course, this means very little to most of the guys here because they have so little income that they don't even have to file returns. But I'll be getting out of here in June 2012, and I did pay a tax last year. I intend to open a dry-cleaning store with my brother when I get out, so I could use every penny. Will I have to file an amended return for 2010?

What Harry says: Sorry. An awful lot of guys spout off about things they know nothing about. These are personal expenses, and are therefore not deductible. It's not too early for your brother to start looking around for a good location for the store. He also should get your financial needs lined up as best he can and start to get at least tentative approval for any borrowing that you'll need. Beyond that, a CPA can be helpful in getting started. He also should look into how others are operating similar stores. And you can do research in owning and operating a small business. Good luck!

Write Harry Gross c/o the Daily News, 400 N. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19130. Harry urges all his readers to give blood: Contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-Red Cross.