Are Financial Advisor Fees Tax Deductible?

Since the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017, financial advisor fees are not tax deductible. In some cases, investment interest expenses are tax-deductible. This is typically if they don’t exceed your net investment income. Stay updated on tax laws as deductions can change over time.

Ebony Howard Headshot
  • Written By Ebony J. Howard, CPA
    Ebony J. Howard, CPA

    Ebony J. Howard, CPA

    Accounting, Personal Finance and Income Tax Consultant

    Ebony J. Howard is a certified public accountant and freelance consultant based in Atlanta, Georgia. Ebony has a deep knowledge of the financial landscape and a background in accounting, personal finance and income tax planning and preparation.

    Read More
  • Edited By Savannah Pittle
    Savannah Pittle
    Headshot of Savannah Pittle, senior editor for Annuity.org

    Savannah Pittle

    Senior Financial Editor

    Savannah Pittle is an accomplished writer, editor and content marketer. She joined Annuity.org as a financial editor in 2021 and uses her passion for educating readers on complex topics to guide visitors toward the path of financial literacy.

    Read More
  • Reviewed By Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, CSRIC®, RICP®
    Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, CSRIC®, RICP®
    headshot of Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP

    Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, CSRIC®, RICP®

    CEO of Blue Ocean Global Wealth

    Marguerita M. Cheng, CFP®, CRPC®, CSRIC®, RICP®, is the chief executive officer at Blue Ocean Global Wealth. As a CFP Board of Standards Ambassador, Marguerita educates the public, policymakers and media about the benefits of competent and ethical financial planning. She is a past spokesperson for the AARP Financial Freedom campaign.

    Read More
  • Updated: September 24, 2024
  • 4 min read time
  • This page features 7 Cited Research Articles

Key Takeaways

  • The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 eliminated the deductibility of financial advisor fees for tax years 2018 through 2025.
  • The IRS allows you to deduct up to $3,000 (or $1,500 if married filing separately) in capital losses from your ordinary income each year.
  • Investment interest expense is deductible only to the extent of your net investment income. Any excess that was disallowed in the prior year can be carried forward to future years.

The passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 under the Trump Tax Reform Plan led to several significant changes for individuals and businesses regarding deductions, tax credits, tax rates and policies.

Notably, the Act eliminated financial advisor fees as a deduction. As of January 2018, these fees are no longer tax deductible. The TCJA tax cuts are temporary: Most changes are set to expire in 2025, and there is a possibility for eligibility for the deduction again in the future. So, investors may choose to focus on maximizing other deductions until that time.

Can You Deduct Financial Advisor Fees From Your Taxes?

The TCJA eliminated the deductibility of financial advisor fees for tax years 2018 through 2025. 

Prior to the Act, financial advisor fees were deductible as miscellaneous itemized deductions on Schedule A of the tax return if they exceeded 2% of adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2017 and prior tax years.

For example, if you paid fees to your financial advisor and your AGI was $150,000 in 2017, you could deduct those fees that exceeded $3,000 — or 2% of AGI — as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on your tax return. In this case, if you paid $4,000 in financial advisor fees over the course of the year, $1,000 of this amount would be tax deductible.

What Changed After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017?

Tax reform brought many changes after the TCJA and eliminated most miscellaneous itemized deductions, including investment-related expenses.

Investors can no longer deduct any costs associated with producing investment income, including:

  • Financial advisor fees.
  • Rental fees for a safe deposit box.
  • Fees paid to brokers or trustees to manage IRAs and other investment accounts.
  • Fees paid for legal counsel and tax advice.
  • Investment publication subscription costs.
  • Accounting fees.

This change could be temporary for those who seek investment expense write-offs as a tax benefit. Upon expiration of the TCJA, these changes may revert back to allow deductibility, or they may be renewed.

Let’s Talk About Your Financial Goals.

Take our free 3-minute quiz to match with a financial advisor instantly. Recommendations tailored to your goals.

Are There Other Fees You Can Deduct as an Investor?

While current tax legislation eliminates several previously deductible investment expenses, there are other strategies investors can use to save on taxes.

Investment Interest Expense

When you borrow money to purchase assets, such as margin interest when purchasing securities, you can deduct the interest you paid on the borrowed money as an investment interest expense deduction. 

However, there are limitations. Your investment interest expense is deductible only to the extent of your net investment income. Any excess that was disallowed in the prior year can be carried forward to future years until your net investment income is recognized. 

Imagine that you took out a $3,000 loan with an interest rate of 5% to purchase an investment that didn’t perform well and only generated a 4% return. In this case, you paid $150 in investment interest expense and the investment income was $120. You are limited to deducting $120 as investment interest.

The excess $30 investment interest expense can be carried forward to the next year. To claim the investment interest expense deduction, you must itemize your deductions on Schedule A and use Form 4952 to determine the investment interest expense deduction.

Capital Losses

Market unpredictability is inevitable when investing. There will be ups and downs, but if you find your investments falling on the latter end, you can use your capital losses to your advantage. 

The IRS allows you to deduct up to $3,000 (or $1,500 if married filing separately) in capital losses from your ordinary income each year. Any excess over that amount carries forward into the following years against ordinary income until it is gone, or as a capital loss carryforward deduction to offset capital gains in future years.

IRA Custodial Fees

If you have a traditional IRA, you have the option to pay the IRA custodial fees out of the IRA’s balance. 

Let’s say you are under 50 and contribute the maximum of $7,000 in 2025. The trustee deducts $250 for custodial fees. This counts as a tax benefit since you are paying the IRA custodial fees with pre-tax dollars, and the fee is not considered part of your total IRA contribution for the year. In addition, the IRS won’t consider this payment as a distribution from the IRA. 

While this is not a tax deduction, it is a tax-advantaged way to pay your IRA’s management fees.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Last Modified: September 24, 2024