21 Tax Write-Offs for Independent Social Workers

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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! Starting 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.

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Office supplies
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.

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Courses & certifications
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Educational courses and certifications to enhance your skills are considered tax write-offs.

📚
Reference books
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Reference books you use for research or to hone your industry knowledge are write-offs.

👥
Professional membership fees
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

If you belong to any professional organizations, you can write off the dues.

🎓
Seminars & workshops
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Coaching, seminars, or workshops used to maintain your work-related skills can be written off.

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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
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

Parking for a meeting downtown, or any other work trip, is tax-deductible!

🛣️
Tolls
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 27a

A toll while driving to or from a work destination is tax-deductible!

🚘
Car purchase & depreciation
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 13

If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.

🧰
Vehicle tool kit
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 22

Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.

☂️
Car insurance & registration
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 15

Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible.

🔧
Car maintenance
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 9

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.

🍔
Business meals
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24b

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.

🛫
Transportation
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.

🏨
Travel lodging
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write offs.

🥡
Meals while traveling
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 24a

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.

🛋️
Home office furniture
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 18

A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.

🛠️
Property repairs
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 21

You can write off up to $2,500 for individual repairs to your property.

🔌
Power bill
Write it off using:

Form 8829

Gotta keep the lights on in your home office! A portion of your electricity bill counts.

🌪️
Property insurance
Write it off using:

Form 8829

Whether it's rental or homeowners insurance, you can write off a portion through your home office deduction.

🚰
Water bill
Write it off using:

Form 8829

It'd be hard to work in an office without running water, huh? You water bill counts.

🌐
Wi-Fi bill
Write it off using:

Schedule C, Box 25

Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!