Our tax system is designed primarily to raise revenues so that the government may provide for the public good. As a result, in computing income that is subject to tax, the following proposition applies: Expenses incurred in producing taxable income are fully deductible even if they are illegal. Expenses are a matter of legislative grace and as a consequence are not deductible unless a specific code provision permits their deductibility. Expenses incurred for personal reasons are never deductible. Expenses incurred for the production of income are not deductible, but trade or business expenses are deductible