I began working at a gun store. I purchased a gun for protection while working there. The owner and all employees carry side arms. Can I deduct the cost of the gun?

[MichaelDC · Accepted solution]

Yes, you can. To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. So, if your sidearm is ordinary (common and accepted in your trade or business) and necessary (helpful and appropriate for your trade or business) you can claim it. 

An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

Note that Employment Expenses are itemized deductions limited to only those over 2% of your AGI.

Here's where to enter your job-related expenses:

1.      Open (continue) your return in TurboTax if it's not already open.

·        Online versions: Make sure you've selected the Take me to my return button.

2.      In TurboTax, search for 2106 and then select the "Jump to" link in the search results.

3.      At the Tell us about the occupation you have expenses for screen, enter your occupation, then select Continue.

·        If you land on the Job-Related Expenses Summary screen, you can select Add Another Occupation (to add another 2106), Edit (for an existing 2106), or Delete.

4.      Follow the onscreen instructions.