Presented By Rav Baruch Fried
Answer: There is a fundamental machlokes discussed by the earlier Poskim starting with the Sha'ar Efraim that is important for us to understand. The discussion centers around whether we view all of a person's business ventures as one or as separate entities when it comes to ma'aser.
- The Chavas Yair says that one can deduct losses from one venture from the income of another venture. For example, if one loses $100 from an investment he made in wheat, and he gained $1,000 for an investment he made in wine, he can deduct the $100 loss from the $1,000 gain, so that his total gain is $900 and therefore he owes $90 to ma'aser.
- The Yosef Ometz disagrees and says that each venture must be viewed separately and a loss from one venture cannot be deducted from another.
This disagreement pertains only to business losses, but when it comes to expenses, everyone agrees that they can be deducted and one only must give ma'aser on his net profit.
When one gives ma'aser tevuah, expenses are not taken into consideration. One simply takes off 10% of his total crops and gives that to ma'aser. Since ma'aser kesafim is learned from ma'aser tevuah, we may ask why it is based on one's net profits, rather than on the gross product like it is by ma'aser tevuah? In truth, we actually find a number of other halachos where ma'aser kesafim differs from ma'aser tevuah.
- One difference is that the Chazon Ish rules that if one receives a present in a non-monetary form-for example he receives a non-cash wedding present, the minhag is not to give ma'aser on that. Of course, this differs from ma'aser tevuah for it is always given on food.
- Furthermore, Rav Moshe says that one can deduct inflation from his accounting of ma'aser. For example, if one buys an investment house for $200,000 and sells it five years later for $250,000, if inflation went up during that time to the point where he is not actually making a profit in inflationary terms, he does not have to give ma'aser on the $50,000 he earned. When it comes to ma'aser tevuah, however, one has to give 10% of whatever crops he grows, and inflation is not taken into account.
The Shailos Yabetz explains simply that the reason we find these halachic differences between ma'aser kesafim and ma'aser tevuah is because ma'aser kesafim is merely a minhag and one can, therefore, be more lenient.
Another answer that is offered is that ma'aser tevuah is a standard tithe of 10% of the crops one grows, while ma'aser kesafim is a tithe of 10% of one's profit. Crops are defined simply as produce, so it makes no difference if there were any expenses. Profit, however, is defined as one's net earnings. Losses and expenses are not defined as profit and, therefore, can be deducted towards ma'aser. This can also explain why ma'aser is not taken on non-monetary items and on inflation, as these are not considered profits.
Taxes are clearly an expense that one can deduct from his earnings before taking ma'aser. Rav Moshe Feinstein points out that there is a difference between income tax or real estate tax on investment properties, which are work and business-related, as opposed to the property tax one pays on his own home or the sales tax he pays for personal items. The latter type of taxes are not business or work-related at all, and, therefore, cannot be deducted from ma'aser.
The Aruch Hashulchan says that one can deduct business travel expenses before separating ma'aser. One can also deduct business insurance expenses from his earnings, as well as the cost of child care or housekeeping that he wouldn't need if he wasn't working. | 
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