As with medical costs, you get a deduction in this catch-all category only if your expenses exceed a threshold: two percent of your adjusted gross income in this case. The list of qualifying expenses is long, but you get no tax savings unless you pass the two percent floor. As you get your bearings in November, see how close you are to the threshold. If it is certain you'll fall short, hold off paying qualifying expenses, such as professional dues and the cost of subscriptions to tax or investment publications, or postpone buying small tools for use in your job. If it's likely your expenses will exceed two percent of AGI, speed up such spending to exploit the tax subsidy.
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