Tax Deduction question for work boots and tools?

Question

I have to buy new steel toe boots for work in refineries. Is this deductable and how do I go about making it tax deductable if it is? While I am at it, would it be in my best interest to buy some tools for the job? What if they might not be used on the job too much? If I can make it look like that, it wouldn't matter would it?

Write offs are a very new thing for me. I am making plenty at the refinery gig, so I lots of federal withholding on my taxes. I am basically asking: how can I get this back?

thanks

Answer 1

If they are required for your job, but not paid for by your employer you can deduct them if you have enough deductions to itemize. My husband is required to have them but we do not have more deductions than the standard, which I think is 7,500 per year. If you use turbo tax and enter all your deductions it will tell you if you are better off going with the standard or itemizing.

Answer 2

Like the others say, you can itemize this deduction, but it is possible you won't meet the requirement. However, if you are a contract employee, and are not paid W-2 wages, but get a 1099 at the end of the year, you can report the costs of your boots and tools on Schedule C with the amount you are reporting on the 1099.

Answer 3

The last person is right...you need to have a big amount to deduct in order to make it worth it. If you only have boots and a some tools make sure its alot. Also if you go to the IRS website you can print out last years forms and you can go through them to see if it would be worth it for this year. The forms don't change that much from year to year. At least this way you can get a general idea.

Answer 4

If you don't itemize on your federal return or can't take advantage because you don't exceed the 2% floor (as described in previous answers), don't forget to check & see if you an deduct these expenses for your state & local taxes.

Answer 5

Gather all your receipts for anything you purchased for work purposes. Then ask for specific advice from either an accountant or a tax preparer (i.e, H&R Block).

Answer 6

while these items are deductible, they are considered employee business expenses subject to 2% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). figure out your income and take 2% of that. then you have to come up with expenses in excess of that amount in order to be deductible.

Answer 7

Any thing that is required on your job that you have to buy is deductiable.But it has to be for your job only.