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I purchase my own software licences and claim it on tax. Because it's a false economy. I've won awards at work, became indispensable on certain projects, and

I purchase my own software licences and claim it on tax. Because it's a false economy. I've won awards at work, became indispensable on certain projects, and have been given pay rises, choose the work I want to do, through finding the affordable right tools for the job and purchasing them. My Jetbrains licenses are a classic example of this. I couldn't imagine refractoring code without it. If the cost cutting stopped, I'd have more competition in the workplace.

itsArtur 3y ago
im curious - what are some other examples?
- JonChesterfield 3y ago
  Obsidian is a contender.
jt2190 3y ago
> … claim it on tax. How does a U.S. employee (exempt, W2 form) do this?
- spicyusername 3y ago
  And how do you get above the standard deduction... Jetbrains is like $200 / year. Only $27,500 more to go!
- netman21 3y ago
  If you qualify for itemized deductions, which you do if you have a mortgage, you can claim things you need for professional development, etc. Subscriptions are a good catch-all. The IRS meant magazine subscriptions, but...
  - lolinder 3y ago
    Only a few categories of people get to claim professional development expenses as a tax deduction [0], mostly self-employed. > If you qualify for itemized deductions, which you do if you have a mortgage If you have a sufficiently large and expensive mortgage and/or are filing as an individual. Our interest almost got us over the standard deduction in the first year, but every year since then the standard deduction threshold just gets further and further away. [0] https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513 https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513
    - dilyevsky 3y ago
      Dont worry - next year is last year of increased standard deduction =)
      - lolinder 3y ago
        Won't help now, though, because the amount of interest we pay has gone down and will continue to go down. =)
  - dilyevsky 3y ago
    There’s no but - if you do this and get audited, it’s not going to fly
- dilyevsky 3y ago
  You dont (unless you’re 1099)
youngtaff 3y ago
> I purchase my own software licences and claim it on tax In theory you could do this via the UK tax system too – there’s a field on the Self Assessment forms that allows you to claim work related expenses that weren't reimbursed by your employer One of my past employers paid a reduced mileage rate so I used to claim the difference on my tax return. Quite how it would work for software I’m not sure though i.e. what’s the test for a permissible expense
emeril 3y ago
I've been doing the same things for many years at this point Most companies refuse to buy the right software for the job and, like you, I'm the most effective person in my team since I can do things quickly and effectively unlike anyone else
benhurmarcel 3y ago
In many companies you’re in big trouble if you get caught doing that

itsArtur 3y ago

im curious - what are some other examples?

JonChesterfield 3y ago
Obsidian is a contender.

jt2190 3y ago

> … claim it on tax. How does a U.S. employee (exempt, W2 form) do this?

spicyusername 3y ago
And how do you get above the standard deduction... Jetbrains is like $200 / year. Only $27,500 more to go!
netman21 3y ago
If you qualify for itemized deductions, which you do if you have a mortgage, you can claim things you need for professional development, etc. Subscriptions are a good catch-all. The IRS meant magazine subscriptions, but...
- lolinder 3y ago
  Only a few categories of people get to claim professional development expenses as a tax deduction [0], mostly self-employed. > If you qualify for itemized deductions, which you do if you have a mortgage If you have a sufficiently large and expensive mortgage and/or are filing as an individual. Our interest almost got us over the standard deduction in the first year, but every year since then the standard deduction threshold just gets further and further away. [0] https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513 https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc513
  - dilyevsky 3y ago
    Dont worry - next year is last year of increased standard deduction =)
    - lolinder 3y ago
      Won't help now, though, because the amount of interest we pay has gone down and will continue to go down. =)
- dilyevsky 3y ago
  There’s no but - if you do this and get audited, it’s not going to fly
dilyevsky 3y ago
You dont (unless you’re 1099)

youngtaff 3y ago

> I purchase my own software licences and claim it on tax In theory you could do this via the UK tax system too – there’s a field on the Self Assessment forms that allows you to claim work related expenses that weren't reimbursed by your employer One of my past employers paid a reduced mileage rate so I used to claim the difference on my tax return. Quite how it would work for software I’m not sure though i.e. what’s the test for a permissible expense

emeril 3y ago

I've been doing the same things for many years at this point Most companies refuse to buy the right software for the job and, like you, I'm the most effective person in my team since I can do things quickly and effectively unlike anyone else

benhurmarcel 3y ago

In many companies you’re in big trouble if you get caught doing that