I am a teacher and have incurred educators' expenses beyond the $250. I've spent $700 as a new K teacher. These expenses are "ordinary and necessary" for my job as a teacher.

Should I consider the remaining $500 as UNREIMBURSED EMPLOYEE BUSINESS EXPENSES subject to the 2% floor?

A friend told me that I can only do that:

1. if these expenses were required by the school to purchase them but was I not reimbursed AND
2. if I provide a letter from the school that says that I was required to do so but the school was not able to reimburse me.

Is that friend correct? must I do those things?

From what I understand: An expense is ordinary if it is common and accepted in your trade, business, or profession. An expense is necessary if it is appropriate and helpful to your business. An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary.

Based on the definition of the "ordinary and necessary" I therefore conclude that friend is wrong. AND that I can apply the $500 as an Unreimbursed itemized deduction. Am I correct? Please I need your opinion on this. I need your confirmation, other opinion or any advise.

Also another friend told me that I can only use one of the deductions either I go for the Educator Expense or the UNREIMBURSED EMPLOYEE BUSINESS EXPENSES. Can I go for both? Meaning can I apply $250 as Educator Expense for line 23, then I apply the remaining $500 to the unreimbursed employee business expenses.

Thank you for your time, hopefully you can drop a line or two. I am so confused

Should I consider the remaining $500 as UNREIMBURSED EMPLOYEE BUSINESS EXPENSES subject to the 2% floor?======= you can deduct qualified expenses that are more than $250 as unreimbursed employee expenses, subject to the 2% of AGI limit on Sch A.in general as you can see, you can deduct up to $250 of out-of-pocket expenses on line 23 of Form 1040 ,up to $500, if married filing jointly and both spouses are educators.

A friend told me that I can only do that:

1. if these expenses were required by the school to purchase them but was I not reimbursed AND
2. if I provide a letter from the school that says that I was required to do so but the school was not able to reimburse me.

Is that friend correct? must I do those things? =========correct; as mentioned above.

From what I understand: An expense is ordinary if it is common and accepted in your trade, business, or profession. An expense is necessary if it is appropriate and helpful to your business. An expense does not have to be required to be considered necessary.
Please I need your opinion on this. I need your confirmation, other opinion or any advise.========== correct

Based on the definition of the "ordinary and necessary" I therefore conclude that friend is wrong. AND that I can apply the $500 as an Unreimbursed itemized deduction. Am I correct? ====in my opinion, both of you are correct;some difference of perspective.QUOTE” Qualified
expenses include ordinary and necessary amounts paid for books, supplies, equipment
(including computer equipment, software and services), and other materials used in the
classroom. Expenses for home schooling or for nonathletic supplies for physical education
and health courses do not qualify for this deduction. An ordinary expense is one that is
common and accepted in the taxpayer’s educational field. A necessary expense is one that is
helpful and appropriate for the taxpayer’s profession as an educator. An expense does not
have to be required to be considered necessary.”

Also another friend told me that I can only use one of the deductions either I go for the Educator Expense or the UNREIMBURSED EMPLOYEE BUSINESS EXPENSES. Can I go for e both?=======as mentioned above, you can go both,depending on the situation.

Meaning can I apply $250 as Educator Expense for line 23, then I apply the remaining $500 to the unreimbursed employee business expenses.==it depends how thy interpret the tax rule. I guess you can contact thr IRS for more info hopefully~~