When it comes to taxes, many people wonder if they can claim expenses related to laundering their work clothes. The answer is yes – you may be able to deduct some laundry costs on your tax return if the clothes are specific to your job.
What Laundry Expenses Are Deductible?
If you have uniforms, protective gear, or other specialty clothing that can only be worn for work, the cost of cleaning these items is likely deductible. For example:
- A mechanic’s coveralls
- A chef’s jacket
- A construction worker’s steel-toe boots
You can also deduct laundry costs for regular work clothes in some cases. The clothes must be unsuitable for everyday wear and they can’t be worn elsewhere. For example:
- White scrubs worn by a dental hygienist
- Khaki pants and polo shirt worn by a retail employee
So in summary, deductible laundry costs include:
- Work-specific uniforms and protective clothing
- Regular work clothes that can’t be worn outside of the workplace
How Much Can You Claim?
When calculating your laundry expense deduction, keep these guidelines in mind:
Percentage Basis
If work clothes make up 50% or more of your total laundry, you can claim 50% of laundry costs. So if you spent $400 on laundry supplies and washing machines, you could claim $200.
Actual Cost Basis
If work clothing is less than 50% of total laundry, calculate actual costs. Track how much you spent washing or dry cleaning work items only.
Records Needed
Keep receipts and track expenses accurately. The IRS may ask for proof to back up laundry deductions.
Claiming the Home Office Deduction
If you qualify for the home office tax deduction, laundry costs for work clothing may be lumped into this category instead.
You can claim a standard rate based on square footage used for the home office. Cleaning supplies and laundering work clothes might fall under this allowance.
How to Claim Laundry Expenses
When tax time comes, here are some tips:
- Submit Form 2106 for Unreimbursed Employee Expenses
- Choose either the percentage basis or actual cost basis
- List laundry costs under Uniforms and Protective Clothing
- Retain receipts and documentation of expenses
With accurate record keeping, you can potentially get back hundreds of dollars from washing or dry cleaning work attire. Carefully tally up these costs and make sure to take advantage of available deductions.
Every situation is unique, so consult a tax professional to understand exactly what you can claim. With some planning, laundry bills can reduce your overall tax payment or boost your refund.
References
IRS Publication 529 – https://www.irs.gov/publications/p529
IRS Publication 587 – https://www.irs.gov/publications/p587
IRS Form 2106 – https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-2106
Intuit TurboTax – https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/jobs-and-career/can-you-claim-laundry-expenses-on-your-taxes/L4lQ3IAWt
Laura has had an enthusiasm for laundry ever since she was a teenager experimenting with wash cycles. She went on study textile science in college before working in product testing.
Soon, Laura found friends and family constantly asking her laundry advice, realizing she had become an unofficial laundry guru. The questions kept coming in, so Laura decided to start sharing laundry tips online to help more people. The enthusiastic response led her start the blog “Laundry How”.
Now in her late thirties, Laura uses Laundry How to tackle all kinds of laundry topics – stains, fabric care, detergents, and more. She provides advice from both her studies and experience testing techniques out firsthand. Laura continues to grow an engaged community of laundry learners, feeling fulfilled empowering people to make laundry an easy, confidence-building ritual rather than a dreaded chore.