Are uniforms required for school tax deductible?

Question

I am wondering if the scrubs I have to wear for medical assisting in college, are considered an education expense that would be tax deductible? We are required to wear our uniforms to class.

Answer 1

No. Uniforms are only covered for Elementary of Secondary education under a Coverdell ESA. In all other situations they are not deductible. The above poster should have read the linked document; it states it quite clearly.

Once you start working in the medical field they may be deductible as an unreimbursed Employee Business Expense if your employer requires them and does not provide them or the funds to purchase them. But as long as you're in school, they are not deductible.

Answer 2

To add 1 comment to Bostonians answer, uniforms required by an employer are only deductible if they are not suitable to wear outside of work. That would probably apply to scrubs, but some 'work attire' does not qualify.

Answer 3

If you are required to buy them FROM THE SCHOOL as a condition of enrolling in or attending the class, then they would be eligible for an education credit. If you are required to wear them, but can buy them elsewhere if you want to, then they are not a deductible expense, even if you buy them from the school.

Answer 4

Yes it is. All your education expenses of all types are deductible. There is a limit though. Usually people reach the limit through tuition alone. If your tuition alone does not reach your maximum limit on the credit (life time learning credit, hope is the first two years only) then you can also use the cost of books and everything else.

Answer 5

Yes. Check this website out from the IRS:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf

This tells you what educational exemptions you can take.