26 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Marketers
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. As a freelance marketer, you’re used to putting a positive spin on things. But here’s something you don’t need to exaggerate: simply by claiming the everyday sort of business expenses you encounter as a marketer, you’ll be able to significantly lower your bill come tax time!
From productivity software to office supplies and more, marketers can claim a wide range of business expenses. That's true whether you drive value as a social media strategist, an SEO consultant, a growth marketer, or some other way.
Check out this list of the best write-offs for marketers, all in one place. Now that’s something worth hyping up!
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
Business cards, postcards, and other materials used to promote yourself are deductible.
Educational books to increase your knowledge and skills are tax write-offs.
Tickets and entry fees to networking events to grow your client base can be written off.
If buy a phone or laptop and use it for work, it's partially deductible.
An additional monitor, keyboard, or other accessories you use to code are write-offs.
You can write off software and tools used for analyzing your competitors and campaigns.
Write off the tools you use to create assets, schedule posts, or pull analytics.
Write off the fees you pay to contract labor to help you complete projects.
If you drive for work ...
If you have to drive for work — whether to pick up office supplies or to attend a seminar, networking event, or client meeting — lower your taxable income by writing off car-related 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 ...
Pitching your marketing services to clients doesn't just happen in the office. You may want to take a potential lead out for dinner to tell them how you can help grow their brand.
Because this is work-related, it counts as a business meal and can be written off your taxes. So would learning from a mentor over coffee, or getting together with a potential collaborator at your favorite lunch-time joint.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off! Keep in mind business meals are only 50% deductible.
If you leave town for work ...
Perhaps you already know you can write off the cost of a ticket to a marketing conference or networking event.
But don't forget the cost of traveling for out-of-town business trips is also deductible!
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 a write-off, even takeout. Like all business meals, they're 50% deductible, whether you eat on the road or close to home.
If you work from home ...
Completing marketing projects for clients, researching new PR trends, or coming up with your own advertising assets are all tasks a marketer might do at a designated workspace in their home.
In this case, 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.
A repair only to your home office is deductible in full. A repair to the whole home is an indirect expense, so you deduct it in proportion to your home office 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.
Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!
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