27 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Photographers
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.541920
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.Photographers are used to seeing beauty in even the ugliest circumstances. But even we’ll admit, it can be hard to see the beauty in a tax return. Let’s turn that negative into a lushly colored print: There’s one simple trick that all freelance photographers can use, and it doesn’t require any time to develop.
Simply by using the everyday expenses you rack up for your business — from filming equipment to travel expenses getting to a location for a shoot and more — you can lower the exposure of your tax bill. Soon your savings will be as pretty as a picture!
Your camera, tripods, lenses, and other equipment are all tax-deductible.
Subscriptions and licenses for Photoshop, Lightroom, and other software can be deducted.
A studio or office space you rent to host photoshoots, develop film, or do other work is tax-deductible.
Courses in lighting, retouching, or editing software like Lightroom can be written off.
Props you buy for photoshoots with clients are considered write-offs.
If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Ad campaigns on Google, Meta, TikTok, and more are all deductible on your taxes.
Need somewhere to store photos and client docs? Write off your Dropbox account or external hard drive.
Business cards with your contact information count as advertising expenses.
Each year you can deduct the depreciation on equipment like your cameras and lenses.
If you drive for work ...
If you drive for work, like to meet with a client, drop off film, or head to a photo shoot, bring tax savings into focus by remembering to deduct 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 ...
If you meet with a model, agent, client, or fellow photographer at a restaurant to chat about an upcoming shoot or other work-related topics, you can write off the cost of your food or drinks.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
If you leave town for work ...
If you get hired for a photoshoot in another city but are responsible for covering some of your own expenses, like transportation, hotel, or food, remember that you can deduct travel costs from 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 ...
A photograph is worth a thousand words — and your home office expenses might be worth a good amount in tax savings too! After all, you won't always be shooting on location. And the amount of time you spend editing photos, marketing your services, communicating with clients, and doing industry research from home certainly counts as work.
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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