Can I claim a laptop for work as a tax write off if I'm an employee?

Thanks for the quick response. That's really disappointing to hear. I was hoping there might be some way to deduct it since it would be 100% for work purposes. Does this apply to all states too or just federal taxes?

The elimination of unreimbursed employee business expenses applies to federal taxes. Some states still allow these deductions on your state return, though it varies widely. For example, California, New York, and several other states still permit these deductions even though they're no longer allowed federally. For your situation specifically, I'd recommend checking your state's tax department website or consulting with a local tax professional to see if your state permits this deduction. Even if it does, remember that state tax rates are typically much lower than federal, so the tax benefit would be relatively small compared to what federal deduction would have provided.

How does that service work exactly? Do they just tell you what you can deduct or do they actually help you file? I've had mixed experiences with tax software.

Sounds interesting but I'm skeptical... how accurate is their advice compared to like a real CPA? I've had AI tools give me questionable tax advice before.

They analyze all your documents and receipts to identify deductions and credits you might qualify for. They don't file your taxes, but provide detailed guidance you can use with whatever filing method you prefer. The accuracy has been great in my experience. Their system is trained on actual tax code and regulations, and they provide references to specific IRS publications. I was skeptical too, but they identified several legitimate deductions my previous accountant missed, and everything was accepted when I filed.

Wait how does this actually work? I don't understand how a third-party service can get you through to the IRS faster than calling directly...seems fishy.

Sounds like a scam tbh. Why would I pay for something I can do myself for free? The IRS phone lines are public access. This is probably just taking advantage of people who are frustrated with hold times.

It works by using their system that continuously calls and navigates the IRS phone tree until it gets through, then it calls you and connects you directly to the agent. It's basically automating the frustrating part of getting past busy signals and hold times. I had the exact same skepticism you do! But the reality is that IRS phone lines are overwhelmed, with millions of calls going unanswered each year. I tried calling myself for two weeks straight during my lunch breaks with no success. With Claimyr I was connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes while I continued working on other things.

That's interesting! I do help manage my partner's Etsy shop on weekends. Would that count if I use the laptop for that business too? How much side income do you need to make this work?

Yes, that could definitely qualify! Managing an Etsy shop is a legitimate business activity. There's no specific minimum amount of income required, but the business needs to be operated with the intention of making a profit. Make sure you keep detailed records of how much you use the laptop for the Etsy business versus your regular job and personal use. You can only deduct the percentage used for the business. For example, if you use it 30% of the time for the Etsy shop, you can deduct 30% of the cost. You'll report the business income and expenses on Schedule C. Just be aware that you'll pay self-employment tax on the net income from the Etsy business.

This is great advice. My company didn't have an official policy but when I asked my manager about needing a new laptop for work, they created a one-time technology allowance that covered about 60% of the cost. Definitely worth asking!

Thanks for the suggestion! I actually did check with our HR department and unfortunately they don't offer any kind of stipend or reimbursement for equipment. We're a smaller company and they said they "provide everything needed at the workplace" even though I sometimes need to work from home during inventory counts and weekend emergencies.

This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about formalizing the work I do for my partner's Etsy shop. Right now I just help out informally, but if I actually started paying myself for managing listings, customer service, and order processing, that could create a legitimate business expense deduction. Do you know if there's a minimum amount of business income needed to make this worthwhile, or any specific documentation I should keep to make sure everything's above board?