27 Tax Write-Offs for Personal Trainers & Fitness Instructors
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.812990
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. They say it’s “no pain, no gain.” But what if we told you that when it comes to your taxes, there’s an easy way to gain without any of the pain?
As a freelance personal trainer, you can put your ordinary expenses — from kettlebells to gym memberships — to work. Think of it as sweating out savings from your tax bill.
Fitness equipment, like weights, resistance bands, and mats can all be written off.
Gym memberships or fitness classes you pay for can be deducted.
Spotify, Pandora, or other music streaming services you use while with clients are write-offs.
Educational courses and certifications to enhance your skills are considered tax write-offs.
If you use software to keep track of appointments, write off the subscription.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
Write off the tools you use to create assets, schedule posts, or pull analytics.
If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
Depending on your state's laws, you may need insurance to keep your fitness business running. (Or you might just want it to protect yourself.) Luckily, that's a write-off.
Business cards, postcards, and other materials used to promote yourself are deductible.
If you drive for work ...
If you use your car for your physical training business, like to meet a client or attend a fitness class, you can write off some of your car expenses.
Keep in mind: the portion you can write off is equivalent to the percentage you use your car for work. So if you use your car 70% of the time for personal reasons, you can only write off 30% 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.
Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are all tax-deductible if you drive for work.
If you discuss work at a restaurant ...
You might meet with a client over a meal to talk about their fitness goals or with a fellow trainer or instructor to talk about strategies for growing your business.
Both of these would be considered business expenses and can be written off your taxes.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
If you leave town for work ...
Have your eye on an industry conference that could be a great networking opportunity? Go for it! The same goes for teaching a class at an out-of-town retreat, or meeting with a client who might sign you on for the season.
As long as the trip is directly business-related, you can write your travel costs off on your taxes.
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, all meals are tax-deductible. Even takeout!
If you work from home ...
Why might a physical trainer work from home?
To manage finances and paperwork
To conduct industry research
To work on client development
To create and manage their professional social media accounts
If this is the case for you, you can claim home office expenses.
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.
You can write off up to $2,500 for individual repairs to your property.
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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By George Poullo
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