If you are an employee and you purchased tools to use at work, you may be able to deduct your tools as a job-related expense. You'll need to itemize deductions to claim your job-related expenses. The cost of your tools won't be fully deductible as it will be subject to the 2% rule. (Please see the FAQs below for more information. Note that if you are self-employed you may deduct the cost of tools you use for work as a business expense.)
To enter your job-related tool expenses in TurboTax:
- Continue working on your return in TurboTax Online. (If your return isn't open, you'll need to sign in, click Take me to my return, then click Pick up where I left off.)
- Click My Account (top right of your screen).
- Select Tools.
- In the pop-up window, select Topic Search.
- In the search bar, type 2106.
- In the results box, highlight 2106, then click GO.
- You'll land on the page that says Tell us about the occupation you have expenses for. Enter your occupation and click Continue.
- Continue to answer the questions in this section. When asked, Did you buy or own any items for use on your job?, select Yes, I bought or owned items in 2016 that I used for my job, then click Continue.
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Tell Us About the Item You Bought or Owned. Select Tools, Machinery, Equipment, Furniture, then click Continue. (Click the screenshot below for reference.)
- Continue through the interview. TurboTax will ask questions about the tools that you bought for your job and calculate your tax deduction, if any.
Note: If using the TurboTax CD/Download software, you'll use the Find function (instead of "My Account") to search for the topic.
What is the 2% rule? https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/4800344
Can employees deduct any job-related expenses? https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/3300622
