Tax Write-Offs For Free (As In Speech) Work?

deuist writes "Several years ago I wrote a book called The Not So Short Introduction to Getting Into Medical School (PDF) and released it online under a Creative Commons license. I have been asked several times to publish the text so that I can make money off of it. The book has become quite famous among pre-med students and is now available from the Princeton Review as a free CD that is given to pre-medical interest groups. My question to the Slashdot community involves claiming this work as volunteering for tax purposes. Have any of you had any success with releasing free software and then writing off your time when April 15 rolls around?"

Comments

Re:I [illegally] write off thousands every year

[Evanisincontrol]

Mmm...

This leads to the question: "Why is tax law so complicated?"

Shouldn't taxation be a clear, easy to understand affair?

Absolutely not. If people knew how much money they were actually responsible for giving to the the IRS, instead of just paying what they were told to pay, our government would crumble. Income tax is a huge farce, but if a large enough group of people ever call the bluff, our country is going to completely collapse.

Re:The answer is

[iminplaya]

...you stupid shithead.

Why do you keep calling me over here if you won't talk to me no more??

I tried so hard my dear to show that youre my every dream...

*kiss*