22 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Audio Engineers
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.512200
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It’s Keeper, and we’re bringing you a clear, static-free way to save on your tax bill. Simply by claiming the everyday sort of business purchases you already make as an audio engineer, you’ll be able to lower the distortion level of your yearly taxes.
And to keep things simple, we’ve gathered the best write-offs for audio engineers, all in one place. How does that sound to you?
Cables, mics, stands and other lower-cost hardware you use to record or perform are deductible as supplies. Higher-cost gear — PA systems, mixers, audio interfaces — is depreciated on Box 13 instead of written off all at once.
If you insure equipment or instruments, the insurance for them is tax-deductible.
Adobe, Audacity, GarageBand are necessary for the job and therefore tax-deductible.
Instruments are capital assets: you depreciate them over time, or expense them up front under Section 179 or the de minimis safe harbor.
Any dues for associations like the Audio Engineering Society are deductible.
The share of your dues that goes toward lobbying isn't deductible — your organization can tell you what percentage that is.
Ongoing plugin and sample library subscriptions beyond your main editing software are write-offs.
Renting studio time, or paying a rent-back fee to a host studio, is deductible as rent on business property.
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.
If you drive for work ...
If you drive to performances or meetings with artists, other clients, or agents, remember to write off 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 ...
A toast to saving money with write-offs! If you grab food or drinks with fellow engineers and producers, agents, promoters, or artists, feel free to write off the cost of your meal.
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 ...
Why might an audio engineer travel for work? To attend an industry conference, perform at an out-of-town venue, or meet with artists and agents that don't live in your city. The costs of such trips can be written off your taxes.
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 ...
A lot of freelance audio engineers work remotely, from an actual in-home studio or just from a desk with a really good pair of headphones. If you work on audio production, conduct artist and industry research, or manage finances and paperwork from home, you can write off your home office expenses.
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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