topic Can I add receipts when I'm filing my W2's for things I bought throughout the year to get deductions?? in Deductions & credits

Can I add receipts when I'm filing my W2's for things I bought throughout the year to get deductions??

char64390 — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:52:53 GMT

Re: Can I add receipts when I'm filing my W2's for things I bought throughout the year to get ded...

AnnetteB6 — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 13:27:12 GMT

Probably not, but it depends on a couple of things.

If you are an employee receiving a W-2, then expenses for things you bought for your job which were not reimbursed by your employer are no longer deductible on your Federal tax return for tax years 2018 through 2025. However, certain states did not conform to that tax law change made for the Federal tax return, and those eligible expenses may be transferred and deducted from your state tax return. You would still enter the information as part of your Federal return by going through the steps below:

On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
This opens a box where you can type in “2106” (be sure to enter exactly as shown here) and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
The search results will give you an option to “Jump to 2106”
Click on the blue “Jump to 2106” link

If you are an independent contractor or self-employed receiving a Form 1099-NEC, Form 1099-MISC, or cash income, then expenses for things you bought for your work are deductible as a business expense on Schedule C. Use the steps below to get started with Schedule C Business Income and Expenses:

On the top row of the TurboTax online screen, click on Search (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax locate the search box in the upper right corner)
This opens a box where you can type in “schedule c” and click the magnifying glass (or for CD/downloaded TurboTax, click Find)
The search results will give you an option to “Jump to schedule c”
Click on the blue “Jump to schedule c” link

To learn more, take a look at the following TurboTax help article:

Where do I enter job-related employee expenses? (Form 2106)

Re: Can I add receipts when I'm filing my W2's for things I bought throughout the year to get deductions??

Hal_Al — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 13:51:03 GMT

Q. Can I add receipts when I'm filing my W2's for things I bought throughout the year to get deductions?

A. No.

Starting in 2018, employees (W-2 recipients) are no longer able to deduct any job expenses.

Deductions on the state return may be allowed in AL, AR, CA, HI, MN, NY or PA. If so, this will come up in the state interview, in TurboTax.

Even in the "old days" , job expenses were only a misc. itemized deduction. You only got to deduct that portion of your misc. itemized deductions that exceeded 2% of your AGI, and then only if your total itemized deductions exceeded the standard deduction (which was doubled under the 2018 tax law. . (2% rule explained: https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2902781-what-is-the-2-rule ).