31 Tax Write-Offs for Self-Employed Dentists
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.621210
Reviewed bya tax professionalThis content has been reviewed by an Enrolled Agent (EA) with the IRS — the highest credential awarded by the agency. Enrolled Agents are empowered to represent all taxpayers before the IRS, on all types of tax-related matters. Accountants who earn this certification have passed a comprehensive three-part exam on individual and business tax returns. To maintain EA status, they must stay up to date in the field by completing 72 hours of continuing education every three years.Does the thought of paying your taxes as a small business owner leave a cavity in your heart?
We get it, the bills can seem huge — almost like the IRS is trying to drill all your profits out of you. Luckily, there’s an easy way to fill in that fresh hole in your pocket: simply cement your savings in place by making sure you claim all the business expenses you’re entitled to as write-offs.
From mouthwash to scrubs to business conferences, every ordinary industry expense can actually save you at tax time! If that doesn’t make you smile, we don’t know what will.
Dental equipment like X-ray machines and drills can be deducted.
Each year you can deduct the depreciation on the big-ticket equipment you bought for work.
Any uniforms you're required to wear on the job are considered tax-deductible.
Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.
If you rent an office to see patients, you can write this off.
Coaching, seminars, or workshops used to maintain your work-related skills can be written off.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
You need your license to keep practicing. So paying for renewals is a deductible expense!
If you pay for JADA, the Journal of Dentistry, or subfield-specific journals in periodontics, orthodontics, maxillofacial surgery, and more, write them off!
Pay for the salaries of dental hygienists, receptionists, and other staff? That's a write-off.
If you have employees, you'll spend money to take care of them with health insurance and other benefits. Write off what you pay for these programs.
Write off the fees you pay to contract labor to help you complete projects.
Do you send your patients home with a free toothbrush and some floss? Not only do these goodies encourage good habits, they're also a write-off for you.
Do you entertain patients in your waiting room with magazines or a playlist? Write off what you pay for subscriptions to People, The New Yorker, and any music streaming services.
If you drive for work ...
If you use your car for work, like to pick up office supplies, you can write off a portion of your vehicle expenses.
The portion you can write off is equivalent to the percentage you use your car for work. For instance, if you use your car 90% of the time for personal reasons, you can only write off 10% 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.
Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are all tax-deductible if you drive for work.
If you discuss work at a restaurant ...
The IRS gets it: not all business happens at the office. You might meet with fellow dentists and orthodontists to discuss a new tool that's just hit the market, or compare marketing strategies. You might also take your dental hygienists, office managers, and other staff out for a team-building lunch.
These 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!
If you leave town for work ...
Approach tax time armed to the teeth with write-offs you can claim on your Schedule C. For a dentist, this might include travel expenses, like the cost of transportation to an industry conference.
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, all meals are tax-deductible. Even takeout!
If you work from home ...
If you're searching through your expenses with a fine-tooth comb to find eligible write-offs, don't forget to include your home office expenses.
Claim these if you work from home on things like client development, industry research, and office admin.
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.
You can write off up to $2,500 for individual repairs to your property.
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.
Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!
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