can i deduct my personal cell phone bill if I use it for work

Forum|Forum|3 months ago
April 15, 2026
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TurboTax Online

MaryK4

Level 15

Whether you can deduct your personal cell phone bill depends on whether you are self-employed or a W-2 employee.

If You Are Self-Employed, you can deduct the portion of your phone bill that is used specifically for business.

Under federal law for the 2025 tax year, most W-2 employees cannot deduct unreimbursed work expenses, including cell phone bills. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) eliminated these deductions for employees, and this restriction remains in place for 2025.

A few categories of workers (e.g., Armed Forces reservists, qualified performing artists, and certain government officials) may still be eligible for certain adjustments.

While not deductible federally, some states (like California, New York, or Pennsylvania) may allow employees to claim these expenses on their state tax returns.

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