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Best answer by DawnC

No, employees cannot deduct work related expenses.   

 

If you’re self-employed or own a business, you can deduct work-related expenses, including vehicles, airfare, lodging, and meals. The expenses must be ordinary and necessary.  

 

On the other hand, employees can no longer deduct out-of-pocket travel costs in tax years 2018 through 2025.   If your state allows the deduction, you can enter your expenses via the instructions below.  

 

Where do I enter job-related employee expenses? (Form 2106)

 

 Can employees deduct any job-related expenses? - There are 4 jobs listed in that link that do allow the deduction.  

2 replies

Level 15
February 2, 2026

No.

Sorry---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.

 

 

If you are preparing a return for a state that lets you deduct job-related expenses, the information will flow from your federal return  to the state return, so enter it in Federal>Deductions and Credits>Employment Expenses>Job-Related Expenses

 

 

**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
DawnC
DawnCAnswer
Level 15
February 2, 2026

No, employees cannot deduct work related expenses.   

 

If you’re self-employed or own a business, you can deduct work-related expenses, including vehicles, airfare, lodging, and meals. The expenses must be ordinary and necessary.  

 

On the other hand, employees can no longer deduct out-of-pocket travel costs in tax years 2018 through 2025.   If your state allows the deduction, you can enter your expenses via the instructions below.  

 

Where do I enter job-related employee expenses? (Form 2106)

 

 Can employees deduct any job-related expenses? - There are 4 jobs listed in that link that do allow the deduction.  

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