Final answer:
Caden can deduct moving van charges, lodging expenses, and mileage for personal autos at the standard IRS mileage rate for the tax year 2015. He cannot deduct meals during the move or the loss on the sale of his residence in Charleston.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is asking about which moving expenses can be deducted by Caden when he moves to establish a private practice. According to the IRS rules for the tax year 2015, deductible moving expenses typically include the cost of moving household goods and personal effects along with travel expenses such as lodging.
However, meals and losses on the sale of a personal residence are not deductible moving expenses. Additionally, mileage for personal auto use can be deducted at the standard mileage rate for moving purposes allowed in 2015.
The moving van charge and lodging are the explicit expenses that Caden can deduct. Since the IRS does not allow deductions for meals or losses from the sale of a personal residence, Caden cannot deduct these.
To calculate the auto mileage deduction, Caden would use the IRS standard mileage rate for the tax year 2015, which was 23 cents per mile for moving purposes. Hence, his mileage deduction would be 3,500 miles multiplied by $0.23 per mile.
Therefore, Caden's total deductible moving expenses would be the moving van charge of $4,500, the lodging cost of $540, and the mileage for personal autos which amounts to $805.