21 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Restaurant Workers
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.722511
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.Whether you're finding shifts through an app like Gigpro or going it alone, freelance restaurant workers like you often spend long hours on their feet. Still, sitting down to file self-employment taxes might not be a welcome respite. Your first 1099 tax season might, especially, come with a dose of sticker shock.
The good news is that you can significantly lower your tax bill by writing off your business expenses — and an app like Keeper can keep track of all those write-offs for you.
Business expenses include things like your uniform, any required restaurant training courses you need to take, and even the cost of buying pens and paper pads. Essentially, anything that's necessary for you to do your job! Read on for even more examples.
Required uniforms or clothing featuring the restaurant's branding can be written off.
If you need to take courses to get a bartending license, you can write off this expense.
If you buy paper and pens to take people's orders, you can deduct these from your taxes.
Required trainings, like for sanitization or bartending, can be written off.
Part of your actual phone's cost, monthly phone bill, and any accessories you use for work can be written off.
If you drive for work ...
Restaurant workers who need to use their car for work, like driving to pick up uniforms, can write off vehicle-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 ...
As a restaurant worker, you might invite a prospective business partner to a restaurant to talk about what the service looks like there, and how they can replicate it at their own establishment. This counts as a business meal and can be written off your taxes.
This also applies to grabbing food or coffee with restaurant owners or fellow restaurant workers.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
If you leave town for work ...
Attending an out-of-town industry conference to network with other restaurant workers counts as a business trip, so you can write off associated 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, all meals are tax-deductible. Even takeout!
If you work from home ...
While the majority of your work likely happens in restaurants, you might take care of administrative chores, like getting online certifications or managing finances, from a dedicated desk in your home. This qualifies you to claim the home office deduction!
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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