25 Tax Write-Offs for Machinists
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.332000
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.Machinists know that, in order for something to work properly, all the different parts need to be operating in harmony. The same is true when it comes to filing your taxes. But one often overlooked component for independent machinists is write-offs.
Too often, these valuable parts get left out, jamming up the whole system and resulting in an overflow of extra money going to the IRS. Luckily, we’ve put together a full blueprint of all the best write-offs you’re entitled to as a machinist. All that’s left is to assemble your savings!
Heavy machinery is depreciated here over its useful life. Small hand tools are lower-cost supplies and belong on Box 22 instead.
Any maintenance or repairs needed for your equipment to operate are fully deductible.
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.
Fees to renew your license to perform your work are fully deductible.
If you take courses to learn new skills as a contractor, you can write off what you pay.
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.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
Do you pay a professional to audit your financial records and take care of your tax planning? Their fees are 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.
Metal stock and other raw material you machine into parts for clients is cost of goods sold.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
Anything you wear to stay safe on the job is a write-off.
If you drive for work ...
If you drive for your work as a machinist, like to visit a job site, attend a course, or pick up tools, you can write off a portion of vehicle-related 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 ...
According to the IRS, grabbing dinner with fellow machinists or construction workers to discuss a project you're working on counts as a business expense. So you can write off the cost of your meal!
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 you fly, drive, or train to attend an out-of-town job site or manufacturing conference, feel free to write off your travel expenses.
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 ...
As a machinist, much of your work likely takes place at various job sites. However, if you take care of administrative tasks from a designated desk or workspace at home, such as doing industry research or client development, you can write off a portion of your home office expenses.
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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