I'm planning to transition to working remotely for a new employer. My question: if the employer doesn't pay for equipment (i.e. fax, printer, copier, phone, etc) that I'll use to do my work - can I expense this on my taxes? Based on my reading of the "home office" definition, I won't meet this criteria.
Thanks.

Even without the home office deduction, you CAN deduct the cost of such equipment as an employee business expense.

However, you will probably to depreciate it rather than expense it under Section 179, which makes the deduction problematic because it is an itemized deduction.