Unreimbursed business expenses: What they are and how to handle them

Typically, business owners reimburse their employees when they incur a necessary expense in the workplace. But when employers fail to pay their employees back for these expenses, it’s known as an unreimbursed business expense.

Unfortunately, most employees can’t deduct unreimbursed employee expenses on their income tax return, which means that if they aren’t reimbursed by their employer, they’re out of luck.

Here’s what you need to know about unreimbursed business expenses, including who can deduct these expenses from tax returns and how to do it:

What are unreimbursed business expenses?

It’s not that unusual for employees to cover certain expenses upfront out of their own pockets and then get reimbursed later. This coverage might include such things as:

• New computer equipment
• Business travel expenses
• Meals (e.g., during a business trip)
• Transportation and parking fees
• Lodging
• Office supplies
• Legal fees related to the job

Ordinarily, employers cover any expenses incurred for a legitimate business purpose, though they will likely ask the employee to provide documentary evidence (e.g., an invoice or receipt) for job-related expenses. Be sure to talk with your employer about their reimbursement policy and to check if there are daily limits for reimbursable expenses.

When the employer fails to reimburse employees for such expenses, then these become unreimbursed employee/business expenses.

What qualifies as an unreimbursed business expense?

Unreimbursed business expenses include any job-related expenses that an employee must cover out of pocket.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) doesn’t allow employees to deduct expenses incurred from their daily commute, but other expenses can be classified as reimbursable. This designation also means that if employers don’t pay their employees back, these costs become unreimbursed job expenses.

Unreimbursed business expenses, therefore, represent expenses that include:

• Ordinary and necessary expenses
• Expenses paid or incurred during the tax year
• Unreimbursed expenses for a specific trade or business purpose

To be clear, an "ordinary expense" is anything that is common and accepted in your trade or industry.

Here are some of the most common examples of expenses that you might incur as part of your job:

Tools and supplies

If used for essential business purposes, your tools and supplies count as business expenses. This coverage extends to office supplies, computer equipment, and even the software you might need to perform your daily responsibilities. If you purchase these items yourself, they may be classified as unreimbursed business expenses.

Business travel

Travel expenses can easily rack up the dollars since they may include transportation, meals, lodging, and any fees associated with a business conference or other major event. At the end of a business trip, employees can turn in their receipts for reimbursement from their employer. Otherwise, these business travel expenses become unreimbursed employee business expenses.

Professional organization dues

Depending on your industry, workers may be expected to join professional societies or even unions. Ideally, employers should reimburse their employees for professional organization dues paid since this money is typically connected to the local chapter of these professional societies.

When employees cover these professional organization dues on their own, these dues also become unreimbursed job expenses.

Additionally, professional development courses and other forms of continuing education may also be classified as unreimbursed expenses and may be used for a tax deduction if you qualify.

Work clothes and uniforms

To be clear, your regular clothing is not something for which your employer is responsible, even if you are required to adhere to a company dress code. However, there may be times when you’ll be required to purchase certain types of protective clothing, uniforms, or other items.

For example, if your job requires you to wear safety glasses and steel-t0e boots, these count as unreimbursed employee expenses. Similarly, certain types of performing artists can deduct the cost of costumes when the clothing is not suited for "everyday wear," per the IRS.

Educator expenses

Educator expenses represent one of the few expenses that employees can deduct from their tax returns.

If you’re a teacher, principal, or any type of classroom aide, the IRS allows you to deduct up to $250 in unreimbursed expenses from your tax return. These expenses include things like computer equipment, books, art supplies, and anything else that students would need in the classroom.

Who can deduct unreimbursed employee expenses?

Independent contractors may deduct unreimbursed job expenses regardless of the amount or industry. In fact, contractors should never expect their clients to reimburse them for tools or supplies unless the contract says otherwise.

Unfortunately, regular W-2 employees are no longer permitted to deduct unreimbursed employee expenses. Since 2020, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) has eliminated miscellaneous itemized deductions for all but a handful of employees.

However, there are several exceptions to this rule. The following special groups can still claim deductions on their annual tax returns:

Armed forces reservists

If you’re a member of a reserve component of the U.S. military, you can continue making miscellaneous itemized deductions for your unreimbursed business expenses. As with any itemized deduction, tax filers must make sure that these expenses are directly related to their employment and that they have receipts to provide sufficient evidence of their amount.

Fee-basis state or local government officials

Typically, a salaried government official would not qualify for these types of business expense deductions. But if you’re employed by a state or local government and are paid by fees (whether in part or in whole), you’ll be able to deduct unreimbursed job expenses.

Qualified performing artists

Performing artists may also qualify for itemized deductions, though the rules about what qualifies as a "performing artist" are a bit strict. To qualify, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have at least two employers in a single calendar year
• Earn at least $200 from each employer
• Report $16,000 or less for your adjusted gross income

If you have other sources of income, your performing arts earnings cannot exceed 10% of your total taxable income.

Employees with impairment-related work expenses

If you have physical or mental disabilities, you might need certain types of equipment when performing services for your employer. You may claim deductions on this equipment on your annual tax return.

Educators

Technically, educators are not eligible to deduct all types of business expenses on their tax returns. However, educators may deduct ordinary classroom-based expenses when filing their annual income tax. While teachers are not specifically named in the TCJA, these expenses still qualify for itemized deductions.

Unreimbursed business expenses for partners and shareholders

Individual partners and S corporation shareholders may also take itemized deductions for unreimbursed employee/business expenses, though the rules differ slightly.

Partners

Business partners can deduct ordinary business expenses if the partnership agreement specifies that they must pay them as part of the business. In other words, partners can only make these sorts of business expense deductions if the partnership agreement specifically dictates that partners pay these fees out of their own pockets.

However, a partner may not deduct expenses that the partnership would ordinarily reimburse. In this sense, the partner is treated much like an employee and cannot qualify for itemized deductions on these additional expenses.

S corporation shareholders

S corporation shareholders are generally categorized as employees when performing services for the corporation. This designation means that shareholders cannot deduct unreimbursed employee expenses unless these expenses relate directly to corporate business and not the officer or shareholder.

How to deduct unreimbursed employee/business expenses

Assuming you qualify to take an itemized deduction for your unreimbursed business expenses, you’ll observe the following process. Notice that you’ll use one of two tax forms (Form 1040 or Form 2106) depending on your exact situation.

For employees (general)

If you qualify for an employee business expense deduction, you’ll file Form 2106 with your personal tax return. This form will ask you to enter the total amount of unreimbursed business expenses paid out of pocket and will also ask for any portion that your employer already reimbursed.

As always, save your receipts to provide documentation of these expenses. There may also be some additional limitations on your deduction based on your worker classification and the exact nature of your expenses. For specific tax advice, consult an accountant or other financial professional.

For educators

Teachers don’t receive the same sort of tax treatment as the other groups listed above but may still deduct ordinary classroom expenses on their tax returns. But unlike other employee expenses that might be unreimbursed, educators will put their educator expense deduction on Form 1040 Schedule 1, line 10.

For business owners

Ideally, business owners should be reimbursing their employees for qualified expenses incurred as part of the job. The good news is that employers can also deduct these reimbursements, thus reducing their overall tax liability.

If you’re a business owner, you can deduct employee reimbursements from your business taxes. This approach will reduce your overall taxable income, which can save you money.

Why business owners should reimburse their employees

If you’re a small business owner, it pays to reimburse your staff for any business expense that they incur as part of your team. For starters, you can deduct these reimbursements to reduce your taxable income and improve your bottom line.

But beyond your tax liability, reimbursing your employees is just good business sense. Few things will crush employee morale like being personally responsible for the company’s business expenses. Reimbursing your employees will therefore go a long way to improving workplace culture, which in turn can help you attract and retain top talent.

That’s actually why it helps to have the right financial software at your fingertips. The right software platform can help you keep track of all of your expenses, which in turn can help you tabulate your business expense deductions for each tax year.

Additionally, having adequate records will help you ensure that you’re paying your employees promptly and that you have a healthy cash flow to invest in future projects.

Good business starts with good software

Invoice2go offers an innovative platform that helps business owners track every business expense and stay on top of their financial health.

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Frequently asked questions

For specific tax issues, consult an accountant or financial professional. Here are the answers to some common questions regarding unreimbursed employee expenses: