26 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Designers
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.541400
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.From icon sets to social media ads, designers like you are the backbone of making our digital world functional and beautiful. But did you know that being a freelance graphic or UX designer means you get access to unique tax savings?
Any ordinary business expense that you encounter as you slay the beasts of blank space and bland design can help reduce your tax bill. And we’ve made it even easier, by creating a shortcut list of the best write-offs for graphic designers. No special brush sets required.
Photoshop, InDesign, and any other design software you need can be written off.
Computers, extra monitors, webcams, and microphones you need for work are write-offs.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Courses, conferences, workshops, and premium listservs: write off anything you pay for to enhance your design skills or further your career.
If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
Ad campaigns on Google, Meta, TikTok, and more are all deductible on your taxes.
Fonts, brushes, stock images, and any other digital assets you use for design are deductible.
Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.
Business cards, postcards, and other materials used to promote yourself are deductible.
If you pay for cloud data storage to store files for work, it's a write-off.
If you drive for work ...
If you drive a car for your 1099 graphic design work, like to attend a networking event or client meeting, or to pick up office supplies, you can claim a tax write-off on the associated 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 ...
Stocking your home office with food doesn't count as a business expense. However, going to a coffee shop or restaurant with clients or fellow graphic designers can be written off as a business meal if the purpose of the meeting is to talk about work.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
If you leave town for work ...
Let us paint you a picture: You head out of town for three days to attend a graphic design conference. You spend 2.5 of those days on travel and networking at the conference, and half a day exploring the town. This still counts as a deductible business trip, because the majority of your time was spent on work! This also counts for other work-related trips, like workshops or client meetings.
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 use your designated workspace to make personal calls once in a while, that's fine. But to claim the home office deduction, you should spend the majority of your time there on work-related matters, like creating designs for a client, coming up with marketing and advertising assets, or working on client development.
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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