25 Tax Write-Offs for HVAC Technicians
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.238220
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.We get it, nobody likes being too cold or too hot. Your customers get cranky when their HVAC system goes on the fritz, and you’re the one to bear the brunt of their complaints. So at the end of the day, it’s no wonder you don’t want to think about taxes.
But did you know that the job expenses you run into all the time can actually save you money on your tax bill? Whether it’s wear and tear on your van or that special-order component you’ll need to fix the furnace (you know, the one that’s guaranteed to be on backorder when you need it most), you can put these purchases to work for you. Time to heat up your savings!
Business cards with your contact information count as advertising expenses.
Educational courses and certifications to enhance your skills are considered tax 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.
Software you use for invoicing, tracking expenses, creating timesheets, and so on is deductible.
Write off the protective gear, like goggles and gloves, you wear on the job.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-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.
Pay any one contractor $600 or more in a year and you'll need to file a Form 1099-NEC for them.
The depreciation on your machinery and equipment is considered tax-deductible.
Any maintenance or repairs needed for your equipment to operate are fully deductible.
Parts and materials you use up on client jobs are deductible. If you keep inventory and bill parts separately with a markup, they belong in cost of goods sold on Box 38 instead.
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.
Wrenches, gauges, meters and other small tools are deductible supplies. Larger equipment gets depreciated on Box 13.
If you drive for work ...
As an HVAC tech, you might need to drive to an office or a client's home, or to pick up tools and supplies. If this applies to you, you can claim your car expenses on 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 — 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 ...
As long as the conversation is work-related, you can deduct the cost of going for a meal or drink with mentors, clients, or fellow HVAC techs.
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 ...
The cost of transportation or a hotel can be deducted from your taxes if you have to travel out of town for work for something like an industry conference or to meet a client.
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 ...
While most of your work might take place in office buildings or clients' homes, you might use a dedicated workspace at home for administrative purposes, like client development, industry research, and working on the marketing side of your business. This makes you eligible to claim home office deductions!
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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