My employer owes me money I spent out of my own pocket for work — how do I get it back?
Published July 13, 2026
The short answer
It depends on your state and the expense. Some states require employers to reimburse necessary work expenses you paid out of your own pocket — things like required tools, supplies, mileage, or uniforms — and even where reimbursement isn’t separately required, an expense that effectively drops pay below the applicable minimum can be a problem. Because the rules vary a lot, don’t assume either way.
The practical starting point is the same everywhere: keep every receipt and a record of what you spent and why, so the record is clear.
What you can do
- 1
Keep every receipt
Save receipts and note the date, amount, and what the expense was for.
- 2
Show it was for work and required
Keep anything indicating your employer required or expected the purchase.
- 3
Add up what the record shows
Total your unreimbursed work expenses as your own estimate.
- 4
Request reimbursement in writing
A written, itemised request creates a dated record.
- 5
Check your state’s reimbursement rules
Whether and how expenses must be repaid varies by state — see dol.gov or your state labor department.
Where the exact rules matter: the specifics — figures, thresholds, deadlines, and which rules apply — vary by state and by your situation. Check them with the U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov) or your state labor department rather than relying on a number from anywhere else.
In plain terms
- Reimbursement
- Being paid back for money you spent out of your own pocket for work.
- Necessary business expense
- A cost you had to take on to do your job. Some states require these be repaid.
- Out-of-pocket
- Money you paid yourself, expecting to be repaid.
Where rippedoffworker comes in
The guide tells you what to do — the app does it with you.
rippedoffworker helps you log the hours, pay, and treatment as they happen and builds a dated record over time — so your own figures and the pattern behind it are organized in one place, ready to take to the people who can help.
rippedoffworker is a record-keeping tool, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. Any amounts are arithmetic on the figures you entered — apparent, not a guaranteed or legally determined amount.