Working on H1B at employer location in California for the last 3 years. Can the following expenses be included in the itemized deductions for 1040?

- Unreimbursed airticket expenses to India for home visit Oct 22 2008 - Nov 19 2008?
- Cell Phone bills
- Medical insurance premiums + medical expenses < 7.5% of AGI?
- Laptop purchases (used for stock investments) in Sept. 2008.

You can deduct job related expenses as itemized deduction. Make sure they are job related and required by your employer.

You will take deduction only if your itemized deductions are more than your standard deduction.. You can deduct the expenses that are more than 2% of your adjusted gross income (Form 1040, line 38). Read: Your U.S. Tax Return: Itemized Deductions (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/05/itemized-deductions.html)

You cannot deduct the trip back to India, as it was obviously a personal trip NOT business-related.