Are Work Boots Tax Deductible?
If you itemize your deductions and are responsible for job expenses that equal more than two percent of your adjusted gross income, the amount might be reportable on Schedule A of Form 1040. Schedule A is a form used to calculate the amount of an individual's itemized deductions. Each taxpayer is allowed a standard deduction that reduces your income, according to living and family situation. If your itemized deductions equal more than your standard deduction, you might wish to itemize to reduce the amount of taxes owed to the IRS.
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Determining Your Adjusted Gross Income
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To itemize your deductions, you must use Form 1040 to prepare your federal income tax return. Complete the "Name, Address and SSN," "Filing Status," "Exemptions," "Income" and "Adjusted Gross Income" sections of Form 1040. Use the amount of your adjusted gross income on line 38 to determine whether your unreimbursed job expenses are greater than two percent of this amount.
Completing Schedule A
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Completing the "Job Expenses" portion of Schedule A requires you to use the receipts from your work boots purchase. You must subtract any amount reimbursed by your employer. Enter this amount and any additional qualified job expense in line 21 on Schedule A. Complete the remaining portions of Schedule A by entering any medical and dental expenses, taxes and interest paid, gifts to charity, casualty loss and other qualified miscellaneous deductions in Schedule A. Enter the total of each section in line 29 of Schedule A. This is your itemized deduction.
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Determining Your Deductions
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As of the 2010 tax year, if you are single or married filing separately, your standard deduction is $5,700. If you are married filing jointly or a qualified widow(er), your standard deduction is $11,400. If you are head of household, your standard deduction is $8,400. Compare your standard deduction to your itemized deduction. If your itemized deduction is greater than your standard deduction, it is beneficial to itemize your deductions, and thus claim your job related expenses on your income taxes.
Form 2160
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If you are claiming any unreimbursed travel, meal, transportation or entertainment expenses, you must complete Form 2106. In addition, you must complete Form 2106 if your employer reimbursed some, but not all, of your job related expenses.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Form 1040 Tax Forms image by Viola Joyner from Fotolia.com
