Unreimbursed Employee Expenses

by Jay
(San Francsico, CA)

I work for a community college and get reimbursed for some of my required travel but other times there is no reimbursement for the travel. At times I might pay $150.00 for a hotel but only get reimbursed $115.00 because that is what they reimburse. (We are not considered government employees so we do not usually have access to government hotel or car rental rates. You usually cannot find a hotel or car rental for what they state is your reimbursement rate.) Can I deduct the $35.00 difference? I have looked at the IRS website and publication 511 but it does not address the difference between the amounts.

Hello Jay,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Any out-of-pocket travel expenses not reimbursed by your company would be deductible as an un-reimbursed employee expense on form 2106. This would then flow through as an itemized deduction on Schedule A.

Please keep in mind it would only end up being a benefit if your itemized deductions total more than your standard deduction as you get to deduct whichever is greater.