Eli5 how tax write offs work

Question

So I ordered shoes through my work place and via my paystubs I absolutely don’t understand

So boots cost 200$

First week they took 50$ out of my check (as I expected)

Then the next week my check was 200$ more, on inspection, it showed normal taxes being deducted from, then it showed “Shoes +200$” as if it just paid for the boots from my taxes? But proceeded to give me the money?

Then the following week they took 25$ from my paycheck

So I truely havnt a fucken clue what’s happening rn

In: Other

Answer 1

This sounds more like a reimbursement than a write off. Reimbursements are not taxed as somehow the government sees the money as already taxed. Least greedy thing they do.

To answer the original question: you earn money (taxable income) which derives your tax burden (money government will steal from you). Write offs are used to reduce your taxable income and by extention your tax burden. For the small fry like me I would have to file line item deductions, and those deductions would have to exceed the standard deduction for it to be worth my time to try.