The IRS announced that the cost of personal protective equipment (PPE) purchased for the primary purpose of preventing the spread of COVID-19 is a deductible medical expense (Ann. 2021-7). PPE includes masks, hand sanitizer, and sanitizing wipes. This means the expenses can be deducted by those who itemize, to the extent total out-of-pocket medical expenses exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income.
PPE is also treated as a reimbursable expense for purposes of:
Note: Employers maintaining such plans that want to provide reimbursements dating back to January 1, 2020, must amend their plans to allow for this action.
For property not depreciated under ACRS or MACRS, the estimate of time in which a depreciable asset will be used.