27 Tax Write-Offs for Independent Artists
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.711510
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.It’s tough making a name for yourself when you’re an independent artist — from algorithm changes siphoning away attention, to recessions impacting merchandise sales, to AI art replacing commissions, you’ll have your hands full just running your business.
What you shouldn’t have to worry about is your taxes. That’s why we’ve compiled a full palette of tax write-offs for artists, so you can keep more of your hard-earned sales while painting a beautiful future for yourself.
Any paint, canvases, sculpting mediums, easels, and other art materials can be written off.
This covers materials consumed in a finished piece. Reusable tools like easels are supplies on Box 22 rather than cost of goods sold.
Admission to a museum or exhibit you visit as documented research for a specific piece or commission is deductible. Going along to network or for general inspiration is not — that counts as entertainment, which the tax code disallows whatever the business reason.
Write off any fees you pay to exhibit your art in a gallery.
Life drawing sessions, technique workshops, and medium-specific classes are considered write-offs .
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.
You can write off frames and any framing services you use to showcase your art.
Photoshop, InDesign, and any other design software you need can be written off.
Write off AI tools you use to edit videos, music, transcripts, or podcasts.
Need somewhere to store photos and client docs? Write off your Dropbox account or external hard drive.
If you rent a studio where you create your art pieces, you can write it off.
If you subscribe to art magazines, you can write off the subscription.
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.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
Fees to renew your license to perform your work are fully deductible.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
The cut Stripe, PayPal, Square or your invoicing platform takes on each payment is a write-off.
Bubble mailers, boxes, tissue paper and more: anything you buy to ship customer orders is a write-off.
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 have to drive to attend art classes, drop off a package, visit a museum, meet a client, gallery owner, or agent — you can write car expenses off on your taxes. It doesn't matter if it's a short trip nearby or a longer trip a bit further out! As long as it's for work, it counts.
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 ...
Grabbing lunch to chat about art with fellow artists, gallery owners, agents, clients, or lawyers, counts as a business expense you can write off. That includes both food and drinks!
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 ...
Don't forget to write off travel expenses when it's time to file your taxes. That includes the costs associated with attending out-of-town art exhibits, conferences, retreats, or meetings with gallery owners, clients, and agents.
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 ...
Do you have a home art studio where you create art pieces, fulfill orders, manage finances and paperwork, or work on advertising and marketing? You can write off home office expenses, such as art supplies and even a portion of your internet bill.
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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