I'm a firefighter as well. I have found the most talked about firefighter "tax break" is the expensing of meals. Most of us work 24 hour shifts and can not leave for lunch or dinner. The tax law will not let us write it off unless we are "required" to pay in to a house fund.

This is where definitions get stretched a little.

Some east coast big departments may require you pay in to a fund but most smaller departments don't. The guys may all pitch in $5-$10 for a group dinner and some people might feel presured in to contributing but thats it.

Some firefighters will flock to a tax guy if they know he'll put down your meals as a write off no matter what. They probably feel tha tax guy takes all the responsability so might as well give it a shot.

I have wanted to take this deduction for a long time and have researched the hech out of it to try and find a way.

I always come to the same conclusion. My integridy is more importent than saving a few bucks.