26 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Designers

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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?

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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 weโ€™ve made it even easier, by creating a shortcut list of the best write-offs for graphic designers. No special brush sets required.

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Design software
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

Photoshop, InDesign, and any other design software you need can be written off.

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Electronic devices
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

Computers, extra monitors, webcams, and microphones needed to teach are write-offs.

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Website & hosting fees
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 8

Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.

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Professional development
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Courses, conferences, workshops, and premium listservs: write off anything you pay for to enhance your design skills or further your career.

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Creative assistance
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 11

If you need to hire an editor,โ€ˆdesigner, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.

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Online advertising
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 8

Ad campaigns on Google, Meta, TikTok, and more are all deductible on your taxes.

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Digital design assets
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Fonts, brushes, stock images, and any other digital assets you use for design are deductible.

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Office supplies
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.

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Personal marketing materials
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 8

Business cards, postcards, and other materials used to promote yourself are deductible.

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Data storage
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

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.

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Parking
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Parking for a meeting downtown, or any other work trip, is tax-deductible!

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Tolls
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

A toll while driving to or from a work destination is tax-deductible!

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Car purchase & depreciation
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 13

If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.

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Vehicle tool kit
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 22

Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.

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Car insurance & registration
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 15

Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible.

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Car maintenance
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 9

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.

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Business meals
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24b

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 thee 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.

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Transportation
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.

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Travel lodging
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write offs.

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Meals while traveling
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

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.

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Home office furniture
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.

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Property repairs
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 21

You can write off up to $2,500 for individual repairs to your property.

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Power bill
Write it off using:

Form 8829

Gotta keep the lights on in your home office! A portion of your electricity bill counts.

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Property insurance
Write it off using:

Form 8829

Whether it's rental or homeowners insurance, you can write off a portion through your home office deduction.

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Water bill
Write it off using:

Form 8829

It'd be hard to work in an office without running water, huh? You water bill counts.

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Wi-Fi bill
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 25

Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!