I was told there are some things that a person is able to "write off" like certain medical bills, clothing expenses for work, etc. is there a list somewhere on them?

[xmasbaby0]

It sounds like you are asking about itemizing deductions.   If you are a W-2 employee you cannot deduct anything for the clothes you purchase for work, or any other job-related expenses.

Or are you self-employed?

Please explain whether you are an independent contractor or if you are an employee who will receive a W-2 so we can provide a clear answer for you.

[missbeckymarie21]

I will receive a w2 this year. I needed to go buy a couple hundred dollars worth of new clothes in order to meet the "formal attire" standards at work. I was told I should be able to write that off. Also I was told I should be able to write off some vision, dental, medical and prescription costs as well. I was just curious as to whether I was informed correctly or incorrectly. Thank you!

[xmasbaby0]

Sorry, but you were misinformed.   The tax laws that used to allow folks to enter the costs for job-related expenses changed for 2018 and beyond.   You cannot "write off" the clothes you purchased for work.  And as for deducting medical, dental or vision expenses, unless you had a LOT of those expenses and you have some other large costs to deduct such as mortgage interest or property tax you paid, your medical expenses will not have any effect on your tax refund or tax due.

It sounds like maybe this is your first job and you have not filed a tax return before---is that a fair guess?

If so, you will just get your standard deduction---which means if you are Single, you will not be taxed on the first $12,550 of the income you earned.   Or can you be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return?

[missbeckymarie21]

I do have a couple grand worth of combined medical, dental, prescription and vision and nope not my first job. Just first time I was hearing about being able to write off stuff is all. 

[xmasbaby0]

MEDICAL EXPENSES

The medical expense deduction has to meet a rather large threshold before it can affect your return. The amount of medical (including dental, vision, etc.)  expenses that will count toward itemization is the amount that is OVER 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. You should only enter the amount that you paid in 2021—do not include any amounts that were covered by insurance or that are still outstanding.  Of course, your medical expenses plus your other itemized deductions still have to exceed your standard deduction before you will see a difference in your tax due or refund.

To enter your medical expenses go to Federal>Deductions and Credits>Medical>Medical Expense

STANDARD DEDUCTION

Many taxpayers are surprised because their itemized deductions are not having the same effect as they did on past tax returns.  The new higher standard deduction and the elimination of certain deductions, as well as the cap on state and local taxes have had a major impact since the new tax laws went into effect beginning with 2018 returns.

Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund.  The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting  tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach. (Only the amount that is MORE than 7.5% of your AGI counts)   The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you.  Under the new tax laws, some deductions have been capped—there is a $10,000 limit to the itemized deductions for state, local, property and sales taxes.

Your standard deduction lowers your taxable income.  It is not a refund.  You will see your standard or itemized deduction amount on line 12a of your 2021 Form 1040.

2021 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $12,550  (65 or older + $1700)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $12,550  (65 or older + $1350)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $25,100  (65 or older + $1350 per spouse)

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD  $18,800  (65 or older +$1700)

Legally Blind + $1350

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

[Hal_Al]

Q. Is  a person is able to "write off" certain thinks like medical bills, clothing expenses for work, etc.?

A.  Simple answer: no.

But taxes aren't simple. There is a "grain of truth" in that statement.  Job expenses used to be deductible (before 2018).  But even then, only "uniforms",  were deductible, not regular clothing, even if mandated by the employer.  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). 

Medical expenses are still deductible, but are also subject to being an itemized deduction and also subject to a 7.5% of AGI threshold. 

Q. Is there a list somewhere on them?

A.  Yes, all over the internet, e.g.  https://www.efile.com/itemized-tax-deductions-schedule-a/

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Adjustments, Deductions, Exemptions and Credits

Before the government starts calculating you income tax, they allow everyone to deduct a certain amount first (they do recognize you need to eat before you pay taxes). This “deduction” really consists of 3 different pieces: adjustments, deductions, and exemptions (although most people tend to lump them together as “deductions”).

 Every taxpayer  gets a "standard deduction” based on his filing status. A single person gets a “Standard” deduction of $12,550 (for 2021) and a married couple get a Standard deduction of $25,100.

 Taxpayers who have certain types of personal expenses (mortgage interest, state & local taxes, medical expenses, and charitable gifts being the most common) may itemize expenses and if the total is more than the standard deduction, they may take those “Itemized” deductions instead of (not in addition to) the standard deduction.

 TurboTax (TT) automatically assigns you the standard deduction, until you enter enough itemized deductions, to exceed $12,550 ($25,100 married). So, you will not see any change on the "Refund Meter" until you have entered more than $12,550 total deductions

Then there is adjustments to income. These are some times called “above the line” deductions because they are deducted in addition to the standard deduction, not instead of. Some common ones are IRA contributions, Alimony paid,  teacher expenses, student loan interest and self employment taxes. You will see the refund meter change, when you enter adjustments.

 You may have heard of another deduction called an "exemption".  Exemptions were eliminated starting in tax year 2018. Everybody used to get an “exemption” of $4000 (+/-). This was per person, hence the term “personal exemption”. Each taxpayer got an exemption for himself and for each dependent he claimed on his tax return.  The elimination of exemptions was accompanied by larger standard deductions, starting in 2018.

 Then there are tax Credits, which are deductions from your actual tax, not your income. Then there are Refundable credits, which the government will give you even if you have no calculated tax to deduct them from! There is a credit for having Earned Income (e.g. wages on a W-2), but you must be 25 or older (or have kids) and not be somebody else's dependent).