https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167464#M304776 I pay every week for tools I need to be an automotive technician. Teachers get breaks for buying markers, crayons, paper etc. Can I claim any of the $700 a month tool expense? The shop is not required to buy tools for me to work. I am Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:26:45 GMT fratfella 2026-02-11T04:26:45Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167464#M304776 I pay every week for tools I need to be an automotive technician. Teachers get breaks for buying markers, crayons, paper etc. Can I claim any of the $700 a month tool expense? The shop is not required to buy tools for me to work. I am Wed, 11 Feb 2026 04:26:45 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167464#M304776 fratfella 2026-02-11T04:26:45Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/re-do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167476#M304777 <P>If you are an employee, this expense is a job-related expense and isn't deductible.</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P>Up to tax year 2017, job-related expenses were deductible as an itemized deduction subject to the 2% of AGI floor.</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P>Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the itemized deductions for job-related expenses subject to the 2% of AGI floor are suspended for expenses incurred after December 31, 2017 through 2025.</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P>If you are self-employed, then this expense is deductible as a business expense.</P> Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:12:17 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/re-do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167476#M304777 MinhT1 2024-02-05T16:12:17Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/re-do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167478#M304778 <P>If you are a wage employee who receives a W-2 then your employee business expenses are not deductible on a federal tax return due to the tax code changes in effect for tax years 2018 thru 2025</P> Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:12:21 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/re-do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167478#M304778 DoninGA 2024-02-05T16:12:21Z https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/re-do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167479#M304779 <P>Are you a W-2 employee?</P> <P>&nbsp;</P> <P class="p1">W-2 employees cannot deduct job-related expenses on a federal return.<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </SPAN>Job-related expenses were eliminated as a federal deduction for W-2 employees by the tax laws that changed for 2018 and beyond.&nbsp; Your state tax laws might be different in AL, AR, CA, HI, MN, NY or PA.</P> <P class="p2">&nbsp;</P> <P class="p2">&nbsp;</P> <P class="p1">If you live in a state that lets you deduct job-related expenses, the information will flow from your federal return<SPAN class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </SPAN>to the state return, so enter it in Federal&gt;Deductions and Credits&gt;Employment Expenses&gt;Job-Related Expenses</P> <P class="p2">&nbsp;</P> Mon, 05 Feb 2024 16:12:41 GMT https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/re-do-i-get-a-tax-break-for-automotive-mechanic-for-the-tools-i-buy-like-teachers-get/01/3167479#M304779 xmasbaby0 2024-02-05T16:12:41Z