29 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Chefs
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.812990
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.They say variety is the spice of life, but what truly adds that extra kick of flavor is when you find easy ways to save money on your taxes. Too often, chefs neglect to trim the fat off their tax bill, but you don’t have to make this mistake! With our list of the best write-offs for chefs, you’ll be cooking up a reduction that will make anyone’s mouth water. Now we’re cooking with gas!
Write off the protective gear, like goggles and gloves, you wear on the job.
Any uniforms you're required to wear on the job are considered tax-deductible.
This applies to clothing you can't reasonably wear outside of work. Everyday clothes don't qualify, even if you only wear them on the job.
If you need to get your uniform professionally dry cleaned , you can write it off.
This applies to clothing you can't reasonably wear outside of work. Everyday clothes don't qualify, even if you only wear them on the job.
Any food or ingredients you use to cook meals for clients are write-offs.
You can write off pots, pans, spatulas, mixing bowls, and everything else you use to cook food.
Large equipment — commercial ovens, big mixers, walk-in coolers — is depreciated on Box 13 rather than expensed all at once.
Continuing education classes required to keep your job are fully deductible.
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.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
Pay any one contractor $600 or more in a year and you'll need to file a Form 1099-NEC for them.
If you print catering menus or labels for dishes for an event, write off what it costs you.
If you're required to wear specific non-slip shoes, for example, you can write them off.
Chef uniforms or branded clothing you need to wear on the job can be deducted.
This applies to clothing you can't reasonably wear outside of work. Everyday clothes don't qualify, even if you only wear them on the job.
Subscriptions to cooking magazines like Bon Appetit or Saveur are write-offs.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
Renting a commissary or commercial kitchen when you aren't cooking at the client's place is deductible as rent.
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 a car to source ingredients, scout a venue, or get to an event you're catering, you can write off 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 ...
As a chef, you might take clients, cookbook publishers, and editors out for a meal to get a sense of their tastes. Or you might meet with restaurant staff, fellow chefs, or a mentor to talk business.
Both cases are considered business meals and can be written off.
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 ...
If you attend an out-of-town conference or client meeting, go ahead and claim your travel costs on your taxes. (Don't worry — it doesn't count as cooking the books!)
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 chef's work is not restricted to just the kitchen. You might spend time at home:
Practicing or developing recipes
Refining cooking skills
Working on client development
Doing industry research
If this applies to you, remember to 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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