23 Tax Write-Offs for Self-Employed Janitors & Custodians
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.561720
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.If you're a self-employed janitor or custodian, you know the value of cleanliness. But do you take the same level of care to polish up your tax bill? You may think it’s a dirty job, but it actually takes no elbow grease at all!
From cleaning supplies to dry cleaning bills for your uniforms, you can write off all the ordinary business expenses you encounter as an independent janitor. This also goes if you take on janitorial jobs through a platform like Taskrabbit or Wonolo. It’s as easy as taking out the trash.
Write off everything you use to clean, including sprays, rags, soap, and more.
Cleaning equipment like vacuums, carpet cleaners, and steamers can be written off.
Smaller, lower-cost items can still be expensed as supplies on Box 22 under the de minimis safe harbor.
Any uniforms you're required to wear on the job are considered tax-deductible.
This applies to clothing you can't reasonably wear outside of work. Everyday clothes don't qualify, even if you only wear them on the job.
If you need to get your uniform professionally dry cleaned , you can write it off.
This applies to clothing you can't reasonably wear outside of work. Everyday clothes don't qualify, even if you only wear them on the job.
Any maintenance or repairs needed for your equipment to operate are fully deductible.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
The cut a staffing or gig app takes from your pay — plus any membership or matching fee — is deductible.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
A bond covering claims of theft or damage while you work in a client's space is deductible — "bonded and insured" is standard in the trade.
Fees to renew your license to perform your work are fully deductible.
If you drive for work ...
If you drive a car for work (even for small errands such as picking up cleaning supplies), you can write off a portion of your 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 — 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 ...
You can write off a portion of the cost on your taxes if you meet with a potential client at a restaurant to chat about your services, or with a fellow custodian to refer them to a job platform or share marketing insights.
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 ...
If a job takes you out of town overnight, or you head to another city for a cleaning-industry trade show, you can write off your travel costs.
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 ...
If you do at least some of your janitorial work from a dedicated workstation at home, like conducting industry research or managing finances and paperwork, remember that a portion of your home office expenses will be deductible.
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.
You may also enjoy learning about ...
The Complete Guide to Filing Your Taskrabbit 1099 Taxes
Getting ready to file your Taskrabbit taxes? Learn what 1099 forms you’ll need, how to save money with write-offs, and the exact steps to filing in this comprehensive guide!
By George Poullo
Advertising Expenses and How To Claim Them
The Business Meal Deduction: A Freelancer's Guide
Use This Free Spreadsheet for Your Independent Contractor Expenses
The Last Schedule C Guide You'll Ever Need
How To File Your Self-Employment Taxes in 7 Easy Steps
Track and claim every eligible deduction with Keeper
Keeper scans your accounts for write-offs and files your return — with tax pros reviewing every one.
Try it free