Can I still write off work tools, toolbox, and uniforms for 2025 taxes?

But what if your employer refuses to reimburse? My company basically laughed when I asked. Is there any other way to get tax benefit from these expenses? I'm spending thousands every year on tools that I HAVE to have.

If your employer refuses to reimburse, your options are unfortunately limited for federal tax purposes. One possibility is negotiating a pay increase to offset these costs, since the employer is essentially shifting their business expenses to you. Some workers in your situation have moved to independent contractor status, where these expenses would be deductible on Schedule C, but that comes with its own challenges including paying self-employment tax and losing benefits. A few specific professions (like armed forces reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state/local government officials, and elementary/secondary teachers) can still deduct certain expenses as adjustments to income on Schedule 1, but most employees don't qualify for these exceptions.

How does it work with uniforms specifically? I have to buy specific branded work clothes but HR says they're not "technically uniforms" even though I can't wear them anywhere else. Would this tool help with that distinction?

I'm skeptical about any service claiming they can find deductions that aren't legally there anymore. Are you sure this isn't just setting you up for an audit? What exactly did they find that a regular tax preparer wouldn't?

For uniforms, the tool helps identify whether your work clothes qualify as deductible by analyzing if they're not suitable for everyday wear, required by your employer, and branded/specialized. It walks through specific questions about your clothing to determine if it meets IRS criteria, even if HR doesn't call them "uniforms." Regarding audit concerns, the tool doesn't create deductions that don't exist - it identifies legitimate ones that are often overlooked. In my case, it found that my state still allows these deductions on my state return (saving me about $300), and it identified that some of my weekend work qualified as independent contracting that I could document on Schedule C. It also analyzed my work arrangement and provided documentation templates to establish a reimbursement program with my employer.

How does this actually work? Do they just call the IRS for you? Why would that be faster than me calling myself?

Sounds like a scam. Nobody can magically get through to the IRS faster than anyone else. They probably just keep you on hold and charge you for the privilege.

They don't call the IRS for you. The service uses technology to navigate the IRS phone system and wait in the queue on your behalf. When they reach a live agent, you get a call to connect with them directly. It's basically skipping the hold time, which averaged 90+ minutes last tax season. The reason it's faster is they have systems continuously dialing and navigating the phone trees across multiple lines, then grabbing a spot when one opens. As an individual caller, you'd have to stay on hold the entire time yourself. I was definitely skeptical too until I tried it - it's just a more efficient way to deal with the ridiculous wait times.

I tried that route last year. It's not as simple as it sounds. Your employer has to be willing to treat you as a contractor rather than an employee, which many won't do because of the legal distinctions. If they're controlling when and how you work, the IRS could still consider you an employee regardless of the LLC. Plus, you lose benefits, unemployment insurance, and have to pay self-employment tax. The tool deductions weren't worth all the downsides for me.

That's really helpful insight. My employer has been pushing back on the idea anyway, saying something about worker classification issues. From what you're describing, it sounds like it might create more problems than it solves. I might just need to negotiate a higher base pay instead to offset these expenses.

California allows them too! I was able to deduct my tools on my state return even though I couldn't on federal. It's not as good as the federal deduction used to be, but at least it's something. Worth checking your state's rules.