26 Tax Write-Offs for Brewers

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Is there anything better than kicking back with a perfectly-chilled glass of your best artisanal beer? What if we told you that you could tax money on your taxes just from crafting that fine brew?

It’s true! Simply by claiming write-offs of all your ordinary business expenses on your tax return, you can hop back on your savings game and keep more of your hard-earned wages fermenting in your wallet.

At Keeper, we make saving money easy, by compiling all the best write-offs for brewers in one place. It’s the yeast we could do!

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Ingredients
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 38 (COGS)

All ingredients used to brew beer (or make wine) are considered tax write-offs.

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Brewing equipment
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 38 (COGS)

Filtration systems, malt mills, and other equipment required to brew beer are write-offs.

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Equipment repairs
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 21

Any maintenance or repairs needed for your equipment to operate are fully deductible

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Equipment depreciation
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 13

Each year you can deduct the depreciation on equipment like your cameras and lenses.

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Packaging supplies
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 22

Bottles and cans to package your beer can be deducted from your taxes.

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Online advertising
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 8

Ad campaigns on Google, Meta, TikTok, and more are all deductible on your taxes.

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Marketing materials
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 8

Business cards, brochures, service menus, and flyers promoting your business are deductible.

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Continued education
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Classes you take to enhance your skills after getting your license are tax write-offs.

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Books & courses
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Keeping up with the latest trends and techniques with books and courses can be written off.

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Website & hosting fees
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 8

Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.

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If you drive for work ...

Working as a brewer might involve hopping around town for a number of reasons: picking up brewing supplies or meeting with a vendor or client. If you drive for those things, remember to write off vehicle expenses.

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Parking
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Parking for a meeting downtown, or any other work trip, is tax-deductible!

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Tolls
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

A toll while driving to or from a work destination is tax-deductible!

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Car purchase & depreciation
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 13

If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.

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Vehicle tool kit
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 22

Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.

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Car insurance & registration
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 15

Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible.

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Car maintenance
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 9

Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are all tax-deductible if you drive for work.

If you discuss work at a restaurant ...

If you venture away from your own brewery for food or drinks with mentors, partners, or fellow brewers, you can write the cost off as a business meal — as long as the purpose of the meeting is to talk shop.

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Business meals
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24b

If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!

If you leave town for work ...

Promotion and continued learning are two big success factors for self-employed people. You might need to travel to a beer festival to sell your product or to an industry conference or workshop to network and learn about industry trends. When you do travel for work, remember that you can write off associated costs.

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Transportation
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.

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Travel lodging
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write offs.

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Meals while traveling
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

When you're traveling for work, all meals are tax-deductible. Even takeout!

If you work from home ...

Why might a brewer work from home and get to claim home office expenses on their taxes? A few examples include working on client development, industry research, and managing paperwork and finances, and storing supplies — or inventory — at your place.

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Home office furniture
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.

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Property repairs
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 21

You can write off up to $2,500 for individual repairs to your property.

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Power bill
Write it off using:

Form 8829

Gotta keep the lights on in your home office! A portion of your electricity bill counts.

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Property insurance
Write it off using:

Form 8829

Whether it's rental or homeowners insurance, you can write off a portion through your home office deduction.

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Water bill
Write it off using:

Form 8829

It'd be hard to work in an office without running water, huh? You water bill counts.

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Wi-Fi bill
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 25

Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!