25 Tax Write-Offs for Event Planners
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. Whether it’s a baby shower or a retirement party, you know that every detail matters when pulling off the perfect event. Your clients expect the star treatment, but do you put that same level of care into saving money on your taxes?
What if we told you that it was easier than setting out chairs, and that even those chairs could help lower your tax bill? It’s true! By writing off all the ordinary business expenses you run into every day — and as an event planner, there’s a lot of them — you can reduce your taxes. And we’ve made it even easier, by putting together a guest list of all the best write-offs for event planners.
So go ahead, invite these savings into your life. You’ll be sending us a thank you card in no time!
Software you use for invoicing, tracking expenses, creating timesheets, and so on is deductible.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
Freelancers, contractors, or other services that help you run your business are tax-deductible.
All conferences and retreats you attend to enhance your writing and network can be written off
Educational courses and certifications to enhance your skills are considered tax write-offs.
Newspaper or magazine subscriptions used for work-related research can be written off.
Any costs you pay for to plan or run the event can be written off.
If you have to rent space to host a community event, write off the fee!
Specific software subscriptions, like Cvent and Social Tables, are tax-deductible.
If you drive for work ...
An event planner needs to be familiar with locations and vendors around town that can meet the needs of various clients. This will likely include a fair amount of driving from spot to spot, whether you're doing pickups, drop-offs, meetings, or scouting. Luckily, you can deduct expenses related to your car from your taxes.
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 ...
You might meet with a client at a coffee shop to talk about what they envision for an upcoming event or go for lunch with a vendor, mentor, or venue owner who wants to refer you to someone they know. Go ahead and deduct the costs of these business meals on your Schedule C.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off! Keep in mind business meals are only 50% deductible.
If you leave town for work ...
In the event you go on an out-of-town business trip, like a client meeting, networking event with vendors, or industry summit, you can deduct travel-related expenses.
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 a write-off, even takeout. Like all business meals, they're 50% deductible, whether you eat on the road or close to home.
If you work from home ...
Does your home often turn into a command center buzzing with activity in the lead-up to an event? Taking meetings, organizing vendor bills, and creating mock-ups or mood boards might be just a few of the things you do from home. If this includes you, don't forget to claim your home office expenses.
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.
A repair only to your home office is deductible in full. A repair to the whole home is an indirect expense, so you deduct it in proportion to your home office 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? You water bill counts.
Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!
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