Can I deduct a work laptop purchase on my taxes when my employer won't provide one?

Unfortunately, the answer isn't as straightforward as you might hope. Since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, employees can no longer deduct unreimbursed work expenses on their federal tax returns. This includes things like laptops, tools, or other equipment you buy for your job. That said, you do have a few potential options. First, have you tried submitting a formal written request to your manager? Sometimes having documentation helps push these requests through. Second, some states still allow unreimbursed employee expense deductions on state tax returns, so check your state's tax laws. Finally, you might consider asking about a potential salary adjustment to offset the cost since you're essentially subsidizing your employer's operation. The best approach would be to push back on your employer - in many states, companies are legally required to provide or reimburse necessary tools for the job.

I was in a similar situation last year and found a service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped clarify this exact issue for me. I was confused about whether I could deduct my work equipment purchases, and they analyzed all my documents and explained exactly what I could and couldn't write off. What was super helpful is that they actually found I could take a partial deduction on my state return even though federal wouldn't allow it. They also showed me some other deductions I was missing that more than made up for the laptop expense. Their AI spotted several inconsistencies between my W-2s and previous returns that I never would have caught myself.

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. I was honestly shocked at how helpful it was for my situation. I uploaded my documents and it immediately flagged that I could take a home office deduction on my state return (but not federal) which I had no idea about. It also caught that I had been miscategorizing some of my investment income across multiple accounts. The document analysis part was super impressive - it pulled information from my W-2, 1099-INT and previous returns automatically and showed me exactly what had changed year-over-year. I'm definitely using this for my 2025 filing. Thanks for mentioning it!

Have you considered calling the IRS directly to ask about this? I tried for WEEKS to get someone on the phone about a similar question last year but kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and they actually got me connected to an IRS agent in less than an hour! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical at first but I was desperate after trying to get through on my own for days. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when an agent is about to answer. The IRS rep I spoke with explained exactly how work equipment deductions work for employees versus self-employed people and cleared up all my confusion.

I need to publicly eat my words here. After being completely skeptical about Claimyr, I decided to try it yesterday because I've been trying to reach the IRS about a notice I received for weeks with no luck. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 45 minutes saying they had an IRS agent on the line, and I was connected to a very helpful person who resolved my issue in about 15 minutes. I was genuinely shocked that it worked so seamlessly. For anyone needing to actually speak with the IRS (which was the only way to resolve my particular issue), this service is legit. I wasted so many hours on hold before trying this, and now I feel silly for being so skeptical. Definitely using this again next time I need to reach them.

You might want to check your employee handbook. Many companies have explicit policies about using personal equipment for work, and some actually forbid it for security/compliance reasons. Before spending your own money, make sure you won't be violating company policy. In my company, for example, we're not allowed to use personal devices to access company systems because of HIPAA requirements. Just something to consider before you purchase.

What kind of laptop specifications do you need for your work? $550-650 seems low if it's for professional use. I bought a refurbished Dell Latitude for field work last year and it's been solid - but make sure you're getting something that will actually handle whatever software you're running on client sites.

I'd strongly recommend documenting everything before you purchase anything. Start keeping a record of every time you miss work opportunities due to equipment shortages - dates, client names, potential lost income, etc. Also document every conversation with your manager about this issue via email follow-ups ("As we discussed today, you mentioned budget constraints prevent providing adequate laptops for all field technicians..."). This documentation serves multiple purposes: it creates a paper trail showing your employer's failure to provide necessary tools, it could help if you need to file for unemployment benefits later due to reduced work opportunities, and it strengthens any potential legal case if your state requires employers to provide necessary work equipment. Some states have laws requiring employers to reimburse necessary work expenses - California is a notable example. Even if the federal tax deduction isn't available, you might have legal recourse to force reimbursement depending on your state's labor laws. Worth consulting with an employment attorney for a quick consultation before spending your own money.