Terance Barnes’ employer required him to wear Ralph Lauren clothing while on the job as a salesman at Ralph Lauren. He purchased Ralph Lauren shirts, pants, ties and a suit. He deducted these costs as unreimbursed employee expenses on his Schedule A. Did he qualify for the work clothes deduction?

What Qualifies for the Work Clothes Deduction

No. The IRS audited Barnes and denied his deduction. The cost of clothing can be a deductible business expense only if the clothing is:

  • required or essential in the taxpayer’s employment
  • not suitable for general or personal wear

Barnes couldn’t deduct the costs of his clothing because Ralph Lauren apparel is suitable for general or personal wear. (Barnes v. Comm’r, T.C. Memo. 2016-79).

You can only take the work clothes deduction if the apparel is not suitable for street wear. For example, you may deduct the cost of work uniforms like a nurse’s uniform, theatrical costumes or hazmat suits.

The tax court said, “Mr. Barnes was required to wear Ralph Lauren clothing while representing the company. Ralph Lauren clothing, however, is suitable for general or personal wear. Thus, Mr. Barnes’ costs to acquire and maintain his Ralph Lauren clothing is not deductible.”

You can even deduct a sport coat with a company logo on it that your employer requires you to wear. But forget about deducting a nice business suit or any Ralph Lauren-type clothing. If your clothing is deductible, you may also deduct the cost of dry cleaning and other care.

It’s impossible to tell if Barnes was intentionally trying to take an ineligible deduction or just didn’t know the requirements. But this case just shows how important it is to have an accurate understanding of the rules and requirements for each deduction.

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Stephen Fishman

Stephen Fishman

Stephen Fishman is a self-employed tax expert and regular contributor to MileIQ. He has dedicated his career as an attorney and author to writing useful, authoritative and recognized guides on taxes and business law for entrepreneurs, independent contractors, freelancers and other self-employed people. He is the author of over 20 books and hundreds of articles, and has been quoted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, and many other publications. Visit Fishman Law and Tax Files for more information on his work.
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MileIQ’s blog does not constitute professional tax advice. You should contact your own tax professional to discuss your situation.