Unreimbursed employee business expenses are an itemized deduction only. You can choose the standard deduction or itemized deductions but you can not choose both and you can't combine them. When you choose the standard deduction you get no credit at all for itemized deductions.
. Itemized deductions provide no tax benefit until all of them added together are more than your standard deduction.
2016 Standard Deduction
Taxpayer under 65, not claimed as a dependent
$6,300 for Single
$12,600 for Married Filing Jointly, or Qualifying Widow(er) with dependent child
$9,300 for Head of Household
$6,300 for Married Filing Separately
For over 65 or blind, add $1,250 for each instance or add
$1,550 each instance if single and not a surviving spouse.
