21 Tax Write-Offs for Independent Social 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.624200
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.Communities are better off thanks to social workers who devote their careers to helping others.
Here at Keeper, we'd like to help make filing self-employment taxes a little simpler! We’ll start with a list of easy tax write-offs for independent social workers.
From professional membership fees to office supplies — and even the money you spend on gas when you drive to meet clients counts as a business write-off. Keep this list handy the next time you file your taxes, and watch your tax savings grow.
Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.
Educational courses and certifications to enhance your skills are considered tax write-offs.
Reference books you use for research or to hone your industry knowledge are write-offs.
If you belong to any professional organizations, you can write off the dues.
Coaching, seminars, or workshops used to maintain your work-related skills can be written off.
If you drive for work ...
Even if you only use your car once in a while for work, like to meet with a client, attend a court hearing, or pick up office supplies, you can still write off 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 ...
While meetings have increasingly gone virtual, there's still an important place in business for face-to-face interaction. If you meet with an administrator, mentor, or fellow social worker to chat about work-related matters, you can write the cost off as a business expense.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
If you leave town for work ...
Whether you fly, train, or rent a car to travel to a social work conference in another city, you can write off your transportation costs. This also counts for other costs associated with your trip, like lodging.
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 ...
As a self-employed social worker, you might work from home on things like industry research, paperwork and emails, and attending virtual meetings.
This qualifies you to claim home office deductions.
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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