Can I claim tax deduction for impairment-related parking expense near my workplace?

This is a great question that falls under "impairment-related work expenses" which are considered a miscellaneous itemized deduction. The bad news is that these deductions were suspended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act through 2025, meaning you currently can't claim them on your federal return. However, some states still allow these deductions on state returns. The key requirement is that these must be expenses that are necessary for you to work with your impairment - which your situation clearly meets since your employer won't provide accessible parking. If you're determined to get some tax benefit, you might ask your employer if they would consider setting up a Section 132 Transportation Fringe Benefit program. This could allow you to pay for parking with pre-tax dollars, which would give you some tax savings.

After dealing with a similar situation, I found a great solution through taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). I have a chronic back condition and was paying for premium parking at my workplace. Uploaded my documentation and expenses to their system, and they identified several potential deductions I hadn't considered, including workplace modifications and medical expense deductions that indirectly helped with my situation. Their tax specialists explained that while impairment-related work expenses are currently suspended as itemized deductions through 2025, there are alternative approaches depending on your specific situation. They helped me document everything properly so I'm ready when these deductions return, plus found current-year benefits I was missing.

I actually tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. Wow! They found several ways to handle my similar situation that I never would have thought of. They showed me how to properly categorize some of my medical transportation costs that were related to my disability but I wasn't documenting correctly. The specialist I worked with explained that while the impairment-related work expenses aren't currently deductible federally, I could still benefit from the medical expense deduction since my total medical expenses were already high due to my condition. They also helped me prepare documentation for when these deductions potentially return after 2025. Totally worth it for the peace of mind knowing I'm handling everything correctly. They even set me up with a system to track these expenses going forward.

Have you tried contacting the IRS directly to get a definitive answer about your specific situation? I know it sounds crazy, but I've had good luck using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get through to a human at the IRS. They have this service where they wait on hold with the IRS for you and then call you when they get a live person. I used to spend hours trying to get answers, but they got me connected in about 20 minutes. Check out their demo video if you're curious: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c When I talked to the IRS agent, they gave me specific guidance on how to document my disability-related expenses properly. Even though I couldn't deduct exactly what I wanted, they pointed me to some alternatives I hadn't considered.

Have you tried contacting the IRS directly to get a definitive answer about your specific situation? I know it sounds crazy, but I've had good luck using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually get through to a human at the IRS. They have this service where they wait on hold with the IRS for you and then call you when they get a live person. I used to spend hours trying to get answers, but they got me connected in about 20 minutes. Check out their demo video if you're curious: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c When I talked to the IRS agent, they gave me specific guidance on how to document my disability-related expenses properly. Even though I couldn't deduct exactly what I wanted, they pointed me to some alternatives

I need to eat my words about Claimyr! After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway because I was desperate for answers about my own tax situation (similar disability-related expenses). I was SHOCKED when they called me back in about 35 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line. The agent was super helpful and explained that while impairment-related work expenses aren't currently deductible as itemized deductions, I might qualify for the medical expense deduction if my total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of my AGI. The agent also told me to keep detailed records because Congress might reinstate these deductions in the future. Saved me hours of frustration and got me a clear answer from an official source. Can't believe I almost didn't try it!

Have you looked into whether your employer might be violating ADA requirements? I'm not a lawyer, but I find it suspicious that they "explicitly" said they won't honor ADA requests. That's... potentially illegal? The ADA requires reasonable accommodations unless it creates an undue hardship for the employer. Might be worth consulting with an employment attorney who specializes in disability law. Many offer free consultations. Even if you can't deduct the expense, you might be able to force your employer to provide appropriate accommodation.

Has anyone tried using FSA (Flexible Spending Account) funds for this kind of expense? My company offers one, and I've been using pre-tax dollars from my FSA to pay for special transportation related to my disability. It's saved me a ton on taxes since the money goes in before tax is calculated.

I'm in a similar situation and ended up documenting my parking expenses as part of my overall medical expenses (not as a work expense). Since my total medical expenses were already over the 7.5% AGI threshold, I was able to deduct these costs as part of my medical deduction. My tax preparer said it's legitimate since the parking is directly related to my documented medical condition. Just make sure you have good documentation - receipts, doctor's note about your condition, and proof that the expense is necessary due to your impairment. In an audit, you'd need to show it was medically necessary, not just convenient.

This is exactly the kind of situation where good documentation becomes crucial. I've been dealing with similar disability-related expenses, and what I've learned is that while the direct work expense deduction isn't available right now, there are still some paths forward. First, definitely keep detailed records of everything - receipts, medical documentation about your condition, correspondence with your employer about the accommodation request (or lack thereof). Even if you can't use these deductions now, having everything organized will be invaluable when the rules potentially change after 2025. Second, consider the medical expense angle that others mentioned. If your total medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your AGI, transportation costs that are medically necessary can sometimes qualify. The key is proving medical necessity rather than just work convenience. Finally, I'd strongly encourage you to push back on your employer's accommodation stance. A shuttle that runs every 30 minutes isn't a reasonable accommodation if it prevents you from doing your job effectively. You might be surprised how quickly they find closer parking spots when presented with the actual legal requirements rather than their interpretation of them. The tax situation is frustrating, but don't let that be the only avenue you explore. Your employer has obligations here too.