topic Can I claim school supplies and clothing if they were a requirement? in Education

Can I claim school supplies and clothing if they were a requirement?

brysonyoder6 — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 06:42:21 GMT

I’m in nursing school. We were required to provide scrubs shoes and some equipment (stethoscope, watch, blood pressure cuff, pen light and scissors) and wanted to see if I could claim them on my taxes.

Re: Can I claim school supplies and clothing if they were a requirement?

Bsch4477 — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 04:33:09 GMT

Any fees or expenses which are required for enrollment or attendance at the school are qualified education expenses and can be used to claim the American Opportunity Tax credit.

If you are a dependent it’s usually better for the parent to claim the credit.

Re: Can I claim school supplies and clothing if they were a requirement?

Hal_Al — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 13:19:16 GMT

Q. Can I claim school supplies and clothing if they were a requirement?

A. Yes. Qualified educational expenses (QEE) include tuition, fees, and required "course materials". Everything you described meets the definition of required course materials for nursing students. That assumes "clothing" means uniforms.