Tax return on work uniform purchases?

Question

I recently got a job working at Pac Sun in California, and unfortunately like any working person I must now pay taxes at the end of the year "/. However, at my job orientation we were explained to, and given a written document, that both said we are required to wear brands of clothing Pac Sun carries. My dad's an accountant and he thinks that clothes I may be able to get tax returns for clothes I buy at Pac Sun now, as they are being purchased for my work "uniform", so to say. Does anybody know if this is true?

Answer 1

Sorry, but if it's clothes that you can wear everyday, then it's not deductible. If it was something specialized, like a nurses uniform, then yes it's deductible. But not regular clothing.

Answer 2

First of all, PAC SUN should be just giving you the clothes they would like you to wear at the store while you work. To require you to PURCHASE them should be a sign to you that they are not very friendly towards their employees.

That being said....if you are required to purchase the clothing, it would not be deductible since it is just like every day wear. It would not be in the definition of a uniform. Further, if you were allowed a deduction, the one responded who mentioned all types of other hurdles to go through is correct...you wont get much if any a deduction. You would almost need to spend more than you probably make (then why do it?).

Answer 3

In spite of the previous poster's long-winded argument that everything is gray, the law is quite clear that only uniforms are deductible, and unless Pac Sun sells uniforms or specialized clothing that a "normal" person wouldn't wear around town then your Pac Sun clothes are not deductible. If you worked at a bank that required you to wear business suits, those are not deductible, even if you never wear them anywhere else.

The issue is probably moot because Congress really doesn't care that forcing people to buy real uniforms effectively reduces their pay. You have to have several thousand dollars of deductions before you can deduct anything. And then all sorts of expenses that effectively reduce your income have to be added together (including uniforms), but only the expenses that exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income count as a deduction. If you're just starting out it's highly unlikely you'll meet either threshold.

The only real protection Congress gives working-class people who have to buy uniforms is a provision that the cost of the uniforms can't drive a person's pay below the minimum wage.

Answer 4

If your dad is an accountant, what the question, go with his advice.

Its always been my understanding that any work related expenses you are not reimbursed for are tax deductable. Now this does not mean you can deduct your sketchers cause they can be worn outside of work. If you had to buy special steal toed boots or chemical resistant clothing then those would be deductable in my opinion. If this PacSun uniform is logoed, serves some special purpose or they have a policy against you wearing it off duty then I think that makes it more in line with a legit deductions.

Best thing to do is call the IRS, it will take you about 5 mins go get a qualified agent to give you their opinion and you will be in much better shape than taking any answers you get off here.

Answer 5

Not sure just what Pac Sun is. But the only way work clothes are deductible is if they are not suitable for wear outside of work - like maybe a Sears repairman's uniform that says "Sears" and "Mike" on the shirt. If this is a clothing store and you are just required to wear clothes that they sell, then no, it doesn't qualify for a tax deduction - and if your dad is an accountant, he should know that!

It might not matter to you anyway. Even if they were deductible, you could only deduct them if you itemize your taxes, and could only deduct the portion of unreimbursed business expenses that was over 2% of your income.

Answer 6

Very simple, if the clothes can be worn as every day clothes, then NO you can not deduct them. If they are a specific "uniform" that cannot be worn for every day wear, then YES. It is probable tha the company does not want their employees to be seen on the job wearing another company's clothing. Like bringing Pepsi to work if you work at a Coca-Cola plant! Or driving a Chevy to work at a Ford plant. It just doesn't show any support for the company you work for.

Answer 7

As accountants http://www.bcbsinc.com and ones who prepare every form of income tax forms that you may ever need for both corporations, small business and otherwise, we may also very well agree with your father as well. You may wish to visit http://www.irs.gov and search for unreimbursed employee business expenses as this may very well fall under such categories as the employer requires it and otherwise. The one poster states that you cant' deduct normal everyday clothes etc but may be able to deduct such things as specialized things as police, nurse, etc. uniforms; however logically stated, though these clothes may be worn and seen as such, certainly not all situations are the same. I would say it is very likely you may deduct as unreimbursed employee business expenses as they do want you to wear certain types of clothes when you are doing your job.

Read the rules and speak to revenue. Not all rules are black and white and there are many times when those rules do have exceptions and this may certainly be one of them.

No one should assume that which the one poster stated. This is not a black and white situation and in audit it may very well be proven that these clothes this person may have to wear may very well indeed fall under such category. I would personally be inclined to believe this may be the case as it is required for the job.

The rules say for example you may deduct uniforms and such as nurses may wear for example that you will not normally wear outside of that job. However, how many times have you seen a nurse in bar in their scrubs or sitting at a restaurant eating for example. The same would be for others. So the rules are kind of lax in some areas. Not all situations are the same, not all tax matters the same. We would be personally inclined to make such case that this person may very well indeed take such a deduction on their income taxes with the schedule. Nevertheless it does help to read the rules before making such statements without knowing. Remember, Dr. Einstein stated the most complex thing is the income taxes. He was certainly right, the I.R.C. is nothing but. Do you meet the required prongs does the employer reimburse. Etc. do they reimburse anything of it. Of course the deduction may be very limited and it may not even be worth it in the long run but I say check first and then see if this will qualify. In our opinions it has more than a 50% chance of being so as your father mentioned.

Wayne Barney
President
BC Business Services, Inc.
Http://www.bcbsinc.com

Answer 8

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