i worked construction and bought a new pair of work boots in january of 07 for 140 dollars, i started a new job in april and the company i started working for gave me a 120 bucks to get a new pair of work boots, well the pair i bought cost 143 dollars. can i claim that 23 dollars as well as the 140 dollars i spent on the first pair?
2007-12-01 01:29:23 · 9 answers · asked by adamc44 3 in Business & Finance ➔ Taxes ➔ United States
i have reciepts for both
2007-12-01 01:32:41 · update #1
yes, I used to work in a tax office, anything you buy that you have to use only for work, you can write off. Any tools, clothes, boots or shoes that you buy only for work can be written off, however, you must keep all of your reciepts just in case you get audited... more than likely won't happen, but if you fail to present those receipts, you will be fined for falsifying your write-offs, even if it's the truth..
2007-12-01 01:31:51 · answer #1 · answered by ilovenerd2003 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
If you're itemizing deductions you can claim unreimbursed costs for specialized work clothing that is not suitable for everyday wear. Work boots may qualify but ONLY if they are unfit for wear off the job. The mere fact that you wouldn't personally wear them off the job isn't a factor. However if they're classified as "safety shoes" then they are explicitly deductible. That would include steel-toed boots and/or boots with a reinforced shank and sole to prevent penetration into the foot.
You claim Employee Business Expenses on Form 2106. The total flows to line 21 on Schedule A. This section is subject to a 2% AGI limitation. If your AGI is $20,000 the 2% limit is $400 so unless you have other Miscellaneous Deductions that add up to over $400 the $23 unreimbursed for the second pair of boots and the $140 for the first pair won't help you at all.
Of course you would still have to have enough other itemized deductions to make itemizing worthwhile. The Standard Deduction for a Single taxpayer for 2007 is $5,350 so if your total itemized deductions are less than that it doesn't make sense to itemize and you'd therefore get no benefit from the excess cost of the work boots.
2007-12-01 01:58:01 · answer #2 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your total unreimbursed employee business expenses would be $163, the first pair of work boots plus the part of the second pair you didn't get reimbursed for.
You can claim unreimbursed business expenses if you itemize, and only the amount that is over 2% of your AGI. So if your adjusted gross income was over $8150 for the year, no you can't since when you subtract the 2% of your income there would be no deduction left to take even if you itemize.
If your income was that low, unless you are a dependent you wouldn't owe any tax anyway so any deductions wouldn't do you any good. So sorry, no, you can't claim the amounts you spent on the work boots.
2007-12-01 02:16:12 · answer #3 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Work boots are questionable under work expenses. The items in question must be specific to the job involved and not be generally usable outside of the work situation. That language generally limits any deduction to unforms with company names, etc.
Beyond that, such deductions fall under the 2% AGI limit. In order to be of any value as a deduction, the total of all deductions in this class must exceed 2% of your AGI before you can start deducting. Few folks qualify under that section.
2007-12-01 02:01:28 · answer #4 · answered by acermill 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No you cannot claim 2 pairs of work boots in the way you have suggested here but yes it can count as a write-off in your taxes if that is an essential part of your work attire. Anything involving your appearance at work (well if that is necessary for your field of work) can be written off in taxes. Only the $23 dollars you actually spent will count, your company actually compensated you for getting the shoes so you cannot write-off on something you did not actually buy...only what you spent individually would count.
2007-12-01 01:34:27 · answer #5 · answered by ♥CJ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Yes you certainly can deduct them. However, the amounts are subject to a 2% threshold. You can only deduct the amount over 2% of your adjusted gross income.
2007-12-01 01:34:38 · answer #6 · answered by beckoningsubstitutes 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wally is a finger pointer without a clue and poor Sarah is less than clueless.
2016-03-15 04:02:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, they just ask for a total on what your work expenses were, you need to also add in any clothes you purchased for work. Just keep your reciepts.
2007-12-01 01:32:45 · answer #8 · answered by Angela C 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
i would think so becasue it is involving work. out tax adjuster didnt look at reciepts just asked us and he even added extra stuff in
2007-12-01 01:32:50 · answer #9 · answered by heather 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
if they fit
2007-12-01 01:32:50 · answer #10 · answered by joseph b 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋