When it comes to itemizing your deductions for unreimbursed work expenses, you have to fill out the long form 1040 and itemize, it only benefits you if your total amount exceeds 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income. With the money we make, it's not worth the hassle for this deduction. Unless you have a considerably large expense, you just won't get much out of this deduction.
$175 a week for alimony - is that a considerably large expense? At least it's deductible.When it comes to itemizing your deductions for unreimbursed work expenses, you have to fill out the long form 1040 and itemize, it only benefits you if your total amount exceeds 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income. With the money we make, it's not worth the hassle for this deduction. Unless you have a considerably large expense, you just won't get much out of this deduction.
Add that 10 grand a year to the other items mentioned by UpState and you probably could come out on the long end of itemizing. I've never had enough expenses to do that.$175 a week for alimony - is that a considerably large expense? At least it's deductible.
Add that 10 grand a year to the other items mentioned by UpState and you probably could come out on the long end of itemizing. I've never had enough expenses to do that.
In Texas we don't have alimony.
Does that have something to do with common law and community property?
I've been doing taxes professionally for the past 6 years, so I figured I would throw in my 2 cents on this matter.
Expenses you can deduct subject to a 2% AGI threshold: union dues, ups socks, uniform cleaning, work boots/shoes, tax preparation expenses(cost of professional preparation or preparation software)
United way will fall under charitable contributions and therefore do not fall under the 2% AGI threshold mentioned above.
Just to hit on a few other points mentioned on this thread. Alimony has its own deduction and you have to submit who you are paying it too so that the IRS knows who is receiving it because they have to claim it on their tax return as well(this does not include child support as its not claimable as income nor deductible as an expense). The alimony deduction is actually deducted on line 31A of the 1040, and is not tabulated on the Schedule A for itemizing. The 401k is already deducted from your W2 income in box one and is accounted for in Box 12A using code D and the amount is right next to it.
How about tee shirts, long underwear, gloves, flashlight? (some drivers keep flashlights in their car)
I'd say a conservative estimate would put my cell phone usage related to work at 70%. Can I deduct that?