Can unreimbursed employee expenses be deducted?
No, not for a W2 employee. Any of the 2017 expenses and years prior that were subject to a 2% of AGI limitation are no longer deductible.
Yes, for independent contractors.
Yes, for Statutory employees.
The best example of a Statutory Employee is an outside insurance agent.
Statutory Employees | Internal Revenue Service
https://www.irs.gov/…/statutory-employees
Apr 23, 2018 · Statutory Employees. An individual who works at home on materials or goods that you supply and that must be returned to you or to a person you name, if you also furnish specifications for the work to be done. A full-time traveling or city salesperson who works on your behalf and turns in orders to you from wholesalers, retailers, contractors,…
I have never seen a mortgage agent classified as a statutory employee.
Now, what if you are both a W2 employee AND an independent contractor?
No for employee expenses.
Yes for independent contractor expenses.
BUT we are talking about the same business field. It would be fair if unreimbursed expenses should are pro-rated……
i.e. W2 $80k Form 1099 Independent $5k
Expenses $4k
$80 + $5 = $85k
$4k/85k = 4.7%
4.7% x $4k expenses = $188 Sch C expenses to reduce the $5k F1099.