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Instructions for Form 2106 2006 Tax Year

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2006 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Who Must File Form 2106. Summary: This flowchart is for determining if a taxpayer must file Form 2106 to claim ordinary and necessary business expenses.Start. This is the starting of the flowchart.Decision (1). A. Were you an employee during the year?

IF Yes Continue To Decision (2)
IF No Continue To Process (a)

Process (a). Do not file Form 2106. See the instructions for Schedule C, C-EZ, E, or F.

Continue To End

Decision (2). B. Did you have job-related business expenses?

IF Yes Continue To Decision (3)
IF No Continue To Process (b)

Process (b). Do not file Form 2106.

Continue To End

Decision (3). C. Were you reimbursed for any of your business expenses (count only reimbursements your employer did not include in box 1 of your Form W-2)?

IF Yes Continue To Decision (6)
IF No Continue To Decision (4)

Decision (4). D. Are you claiming job-related vehicle, travel, transportation, meals, or entertainment expenses?

IF Yes Continue To Process (c)
IF No Continue To Decision (5)

Process (c). File Form 2106 (but see Notes below).Notes:

  • Generally, employee expenses are deductible only on line 20 of Schedule A (Form 1040). But reservists, qualified performing artists, fee-basis state or local government officials and individuals with disabilities should see the instructions for line 10 to find out where to deduct employee expenses.

  • Do not file Form 2106 if none of your expenses are deductible because of the 2% limit on miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Continue To End

Decision (5). E. Are you a reservist, a qualified performing artist, a fee-basis state or local government official, or an individual with a disability claiming impairment-related work expenses? See the line 10 instructions for definitions.

IF Yes Continue To Process (c)
IF No Continue To Process (d)

Process (d). Do not file Form 2106. Enter expenses on Schedule A (Form 1040), line 20. These expenses include business gifts, education (tuition and books), home office, trade publications, etc.

Continue To End

Decision (6). F. Did you use a vehicle in your job in 2005 that you also used for business in a prior year?

IF Yes Continue To Decision (7)
IF No Continue To Decision (8)

Decision (7). G. Is either 1 or 2 true?

  1. 1. You owned this vehicle and used the actual expense method in the first year you used the vehicle for business.

  2. 2. You used a depreciation method other than straight line for this vehicle in a prior year.

IF Yes Continue To Process (e)
IF No Continue To Decision (8)

Process (e). File Form 2106.

Continue To End

Decision (8). H. Are your deductible expenses more than your reimbursements (count only reimbursements your employer did not include in box 1 of your Form W-2)? For rules covering employer reporting of reimbursed expenses, see the instructions for line 7.

IF Yes Continue To Process (c)
IF No Continue To Process (b)

End. This is the ending of the flowchart.

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