moving expenses / paying for mileage and meals of helpers

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Second, arguably the costs of your movers' meals would be 50% deductible by you if paid by you.

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Well I don't think I would argue that one atall. But if meals might be deductible (and why only 50% anyway? not business related), why not the paying for a haircut for the two guys with a truck?

Christmas ChEAr$, Harlan

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Harlan, I don't understand your point about 50% and being business related. My move was for work.

If you were in business for yourself and moving business assets, then such moving expenses would be deductible, and meals of course subject to the 50% rule. But in this case, your move was in connection with work, which I take it to be as an employee.

Anyway, as you've already learned, those expenditures for parents' meals aren't deductible anyhow.

Christmas ChEAr$, Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

If the movers were unrelated business people and paid their own meal costs they would be limited to 50% of those costs (except for an OTR truck driver). If the customer reimbursed any part of those meal costs he/she would get to deduct 50% of the reimbursement as a moving expense. If the movers were relatives working only for expenses then the person getting moved would not, in my opinion, suddenly get to deduct 100% of the reimbursement. On the other hand, I believe it is arguable that the 50% of meals reimbursed does continue to be a deductible moving expense.

As I noted in my original response, none of the costs incurred to support house hunting are deductible as moving expenses.