Deductions and Write-Offs

No. Unless this investing is your primary business, it cannot be claimed as a home office deduction.

No. There is no deduction allowed for a loss on a personal residence.

The travel from one job location to a second job location is deductible. The travel from your home to the first job location and from your second job location returning home is considered commuting and not deductible. For the current year you are allowed 55.5 cents per mile for business miles driven, which would be claimed on Schedule A as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% limitation.

Yes. A prize or award of merchandise is taxable at its fair market value. In general, the FMV would be the amount a person would receive upon resale to the general public.
There is an exception when prizes and awards are non-taxable. In general, the exception applies when the award or prize is in recognition of charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, civic or artistic achievements.
There are other criteria involved. Speak to your local CPA for the taxability of the prize or award won.

Yes. Raffle, lottery and sweepstakes winnings are taxable as any other income on your tax return. Generally the amount reported will represent the prize's fair market value. The costs of the raffle, lottery or sweepstake tickets (to the extent of the winnings)are deductible as a Miscellaneous itemized deduction not subject to the 2 % limitation.

In general the costs of commuting between a taxpayer's home and work location are non-deductible personal expenses. There are exceptions to this rule for commuting to a temporary work location.
If you purchase an auto that you use for work (i.e. a salesman)you may claim the actual unreimbursed expenses or the IRS mileage allowance, whichever is higher. The expense is claimed on IRS Form 2106.
There are limitations on the actual expenses that may be taken each year. In the current year, the standard mileage rate is 56.5 cents per milefor business miles driven.
The maximum first year actual depreciation deduction is $11,160 if bonus depreciation claimed. Speak to your local CPA if you are commuting to a temporary work location or need guidance in your first year actual verses mileage expense election.

Yes. You may take the full year's exemption amount even though she only lived with you for 2 months of the tax year. A full year's exemption amount would also be available for dependents born during the year.

If you are filing as married filing separately, both persons must file using either the standard or itemized deduction amounts. One spouse cannot use the standard deduction and the other use the itemized deduction amount.

Expenses that result from looking for a new job in a taxpayers's present line of work are tax deductible even if a new job is not found.
However, expenses of looking for a new job in a new trade or business, even if a job is found, are not deductible. Also, expenses incurred for a recent college graduate looking for his/hers first job are not deductible.