What is considered as business expenses eligible for tax deduction?

[yatoshura]

I worked as a software developer for a large tech company and it is my only source of income. I brought a new laptop, mouse, keyboard and a stand desktop to sometimes work from home (Maybe twice a month). Are these expenses deducible? My employer didn't reimburse me for any of these expenses. 

[JulieCo · Accepted solution]

It depends.  In order to qualify as a job-related expense, all expenses must be incurred during the tax year, must be trade or business-related, and must be “ordinary and necessary.” The expenses don’t have to be required, however: In IRS-speak, a necessary expense is simply one that is helpful and appropriate for your business. And, of course, the costs can’t be reimbursed by your employer.

Note, though, that job-related expenses are included as itemized expenses and, therefore, only deductible if you itemize instead of taking the standard deduction.  Plus, the only amount of job-related expenses that will be included in your itemized expenses are those that exceed 2% of your adjusted gross income.  

TurboTax will help guide you through to determine your job-related expenses and deductibility. 

See more information below:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3300622