Sight Gauge

What does it mean to "claim" something when filing your US income tax?

In the past, I have always filed the 1040EZ form since I am single and had nothing to claim. The job I got in January 2010 requires me to wear a sidearm and uniform. I spent $1200 on my duty weapon. In addition, I bought leather duty belt, holster & gear, uniform pants, uniform shoes, a 12 gauge shotgun & laser sight plus other items necessary to do my job. Altogether, it is only about $2000 I think. I have all the receipts and am told I can claim them on my 2010 income tax return. I am just curious how this works. If I can claim them as work expenses, how does it benefit me? Am I exempt from paying income tax on the money I used to purchase those items? How does that stuff work and how else can I possibly benefit? Thanks in advance. .

Public Comments

1. If you are a contractor for the company and receive a 1099 from them you will report those items as expenses on your Schedule C. This will lower your income which will lower the amount that is subject to Federal/State income taxes and self-employment taxes. If you are an employee for the company and receive a W-2 the expenses can be treated as "Employee Business Expenses". You are supposed to attempt to get reimbursed from the company before putting the expenses on your return. If you are reimbursed you don't get to deduct them. If you are unable to be reimbursed then you would claim them on Schedule A as an itemized deduction under the section at the bottom for "2% Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions". They also get summarized on Form 2106. This means that you will only get to take advantage of these expenses if you 1. itemize instead of taking the standard deduction (all depends on what other types of deductions you have) and 2. the 2,000 must be more than 2% of your adjusted gross income before you will get any tax benefit.
2. you are referring to itemizing those items your employer has required you to provide your standard deduction is already $5700 and unless you can itemize more than that amount(which your expenses do not) it is pointless to 'claim' them which means rather than automatically use the standard deduction you list(or claim) all the many things you can itemize, such as taxes, mortgage interest, medical expenses, charitable donation and casualty losses as well as misc deductions which the list you mention is(also limited to 2% of your AGI)