Question
I have a tax question about deducting union dues. Can I deduct union dues from my tax return?
Answer
An employee who paid union dues prior to 2018 may have been able to deduct them as unreimbursed business expenses, if the total of the dues plus certain miscellaneous itemized expenses reached a certain level. The employee then deducted the dues if the employee was able to itemize deductions.

Tax reform changed all that. For tax years 2018 through 2025, union dues – and all employee expenses – are no longer deductible, even if the employee can itemize deductions.

However, if the taxpayer is self-employed and pays union dues, those dues are deductible as a business expense.

Also, even though unreimbursed employee expenses are no longer deductible on the federal return, some states, such as Minnesota and Pennsylvania, may allow the deduction on the state tax return.