Funeral Vs. Memorial Service July 10, 2009 Kail Padgitt Kail Padgitt Was Michael Jackson’s service at the Staples Center on Tuesday a funeral or a memorial service? The distinction is causally defined by the presence of the casket. If the casket is present it’s defined as a funeral. It turns out this distinction has implications for the tax deductibility of Michael Jackson’s service. From the Tax Prof: Any other costs paid for by the estate for the public memorial which was not part of the funeral should not be allowed as a deduction. The public memorial, while touching, was not really part of the funeral, and the IRS would have a strong argument if they chose to disallow the deduction. Stay informed on the tax policies impacting you. Subscribe to get insights from our trusted experts delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Share Tweet Share Email Topics Estate and Gift Taxes