28 Tax Write-Offs for Consultants
NAICS business codeYour NAICS business code is a six-digit string of numbers that shows the type of work your business does. NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System. When you do your taxes, you'll enter it in Box B of your Schedule C.541600
Reviewed bySabrina Wiechart, CPASabrina is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 15 years of experience in tax preparation, planning, and S-Corp compliance. She holds a Master’s in Accounting and specializes in helping self-employed individuals make smart tax decisions. Sabrina is passionate about simplifying the S-Corp process and making sure every client keeps more of what they earn.Consultants understand the value of getting an expert’s opinion. So let us offer up a bit of free advice: as a freelance consultant, you can save significantly on your tax bill simply by writing off all the ordinary business expenses you encounter every day.
Whether it's productivity software or the cost of attending your latest industry conference, you can put these expenses to work for you. And we’ve made it even easier, by assembling a list of the best write-offs for consultants!
Coaching, seminars, or workshops used to maintain your work-related skills can be written off.
This covers training that maintains or improves skills for the work you already do. Courses that qualify you for a new trade or profession are not deductible.
Educational books to increase your knowledge and skills are tax write-offs.
Newspaper or magazine subscriptions used for work-related research can be written off.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Business cards, postcards, and other materials used to promote yourself are deductible.
Your phone, its monthly bill, and accessories are all partially deductible, in proportion to business use. The phone itself is depreciated on Box 13 (or expensed under Section 179); the monthly bill belongs on Box 27b, and accessories on Box 22.
Write off the fees you pay to contract labor to help you complete projects.
Pay any one contractor $600 or more in a year and you'll need to file a Form 1099-NEC for them.
Computers, extra monitors, webcams and microphones you need for work are write-offs. The device is depreciated on Box 13, or expensed up front under Section 179 or the de minimis safe harbor, and only the business-use share counts.
Professional services like lawyers, accountants, and more can be deducted on your taxes.
Business cards with your contact information count as advertising expenses.
Software you use for invoicing, tracking expenses, creating timesheets, and so on is deductible.
Ad campaigns on Google, Meta, TikTok, and more are all deductible on your taxes.
Errors and omissions coverage protects you when a client claims your advice or work caused them a loss — the premiums are deductible.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
Fees to renew your license to perform your work are fully deductible.
If you belong to any professional organizations, you can write off the dues.
The share of your dues that goes toward lobbying isn't deductible — your organization can tell you what percentage that is.
The cut Stripe, PayPal, Square or your invoicing platform takes on each payment is a write-off.
Envelopes, stamps, and other postage fees supplies (plus fees!) for your business are deductible.
If you drive for work ...
The responsibilities of a consultant vary daily, from picking up office supplies to meeting with clients and attending networking events and conferences. If you spend time driving for work, you can deduct a portion of your car expenses.
Parking for a meeting downtown, or any other work trip, is tax-deductible!
A toll while driving to or from a work destination is tax-deductible!
If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.
Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.
Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible — if you use the actual expense method. The standard mileage rate already covers them.
Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are deductible if you use the actual expense method. Take the standard mileage rate instead and they're already baked into your per-mile deduction.
If you discuss work at a restaurant ...
In addition to out-of-town networking events, your consulting business also probably benefits from taking clients out to dinner to chat about your services or grabbing a bite with lawyers, accountants, and fellow consultants. As long as the meeting is work-related, you can write off the cost of your food and drink.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off — 50% of the tab.
If you leave town for work ...
As a consultant, networking is key. That likely involves venturing to out-of-town conferences, seminars, workshops, or meet-ups. Luckily, work-related travel expenses can be written off!
Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.
When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write-offs.
When you're traveling for work, your meals are 50% deductible — takeout included. (Long-haul truck drivers subject to DOT hours-of-service rules can deduct 80%.)
If you work from home ...
You don't need a separate work room with a closing door to deduct home office expenses. A dedicated desk where you conduct client calls or work on lead generation and client development also counts!
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs. Anything over about $2,500 gets depreciated on Form 4562 instead of written off all at once.
Repairs just for your home office are 100% deductible. Repairs to the rest of your home count too, prorated by your business-use percentage on Form 8829.
Gotta keep the lights on in your home office! A portion of your electricity bill counts.
Whether it's rental or homeowners insurance, you can write off a portion through your home office deduction.
It'd be hard to work in an office without running water, huh? Your water bill counts.
You need internet to do your job! If you claim a home office, deduct it prorated on Form 8829 along with your other utilities. Internet you pay for on the road, purely for work, is 100% deductible.
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