topic My Spouse does not have access to drinkable water at work. Signs at work read "do not drink". Can we deduct store bought bottled water from our taxes next year? in Deductions & credits

My Spouse does not have access to drinkable water at work. Signs at work read "do not drink". Can we deduct store bought bottled water from our taxes next year?

aalane11009 — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:08:48 GMT

Signs at work on the water fountain and sinks read "hand wash only, do not drink" He works outdoors in the hot sun at this location daily. We buy packs of bottled water, that he can drink. Next year, can we claim that water (with receipt proof) or get a deduction on all these packs of water?
The facility is not planning to get a working water dispenser installed anytime in the near future.

Re: My Spouse does not have access to drinkable water at work. Signs at work read "do not drink". Can we deduct store bought bottled water from our taxes next year?

Anonymous_ — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 17:49:13 GMT

You're not going to be able to deduct the cost as an employee expense, but it sure does appear as if the lack of access to potable water violates OSHA's standards.

See https://www.osha.com/blog/water-requirements

You can file a complaint at the site below.

https://www.osha.gov/workers/file-complaint

Re: My Spouse does not have access to drinkable water at work. Signs at work read "do not drink". Can we deduct store bought bottled water from our taxes next year?

xmasbaby0 — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 18:00:36 GMT

Agreed---report the mistreatment of employees and the lack of potable water for them. But if she is a W-2 employee, sorry, there is no federal deduction for buying bottled water.

W-2 employees cannot deduct job-related expenses on a federal return. Job-related expenses were eliminated as a federal deduction for W-2 employees by the tax laws that changed for 2018 and beyond. Your state tax laws might be different in AL, AR, CA, HI, MN, NY or PA.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4482873-which-federal-tax-deductions-have-been-suspended-by-tax-reform