27 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Translators & Interpreters
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.541930
Reviewed bySabrina Wiechart, CPASabrina is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over 15 years of experience in tax preparation, planning, and S-Corp compliance. She holds a Master’s in Accounting and specializes in helping self-employed individuals make smart tax decisions. Sabrina is passionate about simplifying the S-Corp process and making sure every client keeps more of what they earn.Whether you're translating court documents or speculative fiction, you know at least two languages — perhaps even several. But can you speak "IRS"?
If the rules around filing your self-employment taxes feel more like gibberish, don't worry; you're not alone in that. Keeper is here to be your own personal IRS translator!
We have a guide that breaks down the tax filing process into simple, easy-to-understand steps. We also have this list of the best write-offs for translators to help lower your tax bill. Keep both handy at tax time, and whether you work on ancient Greek or ASL, you can let your savings speak for themselves.
Write off any fees you pay to become a certified translator, like for the ATA exam or language-specific exams like the HSK.
This covers training that maintains or improves skills for the work you already do. Courses that qualify you for a new trade or profession are not deductible.
Foreign dictionaries, grammars, and lexicons used for translation can be deducted. That goes for app versions too!
Write off subscriptions or licensing fees for translation software.
Writing tools like Grammarly and Hemingway are tax-deductible. So are word processors like Scrivener and transcription software for interviews.
Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.
If you buy a phone or laptop and use it for work, it's partially deductible — in proportion to how much you use it for business. The device itself is depreciated on Box 13 (or expensed under Section 179); your monthly service plan belongs on Box 27b, and accessories on Box 22.
Classes you take to enhance your skills after getting your license are tax write-offs.
This covers training that maintains or improves skills for the work you already do. Courses that qualify you for a new trade or profession are not deductible.
Keeping up with the latest trends and techniques with books and courses can be written off.
This covers training that maintains or improves skills for the work you already do. Courses that qualify you for a new trade or profession are not deductible.
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 fees you pay to contract labor to help you complete projects.
Pay any one contractor $600 or more in a year and you'll need to file a Form 1099-NEC for them.
Errors and omissions coverage protects you when a client claims your advice or work caused them a loss — the premiums are deductible.
If you belong to any professional organizations, you can write off the dues.
The share of your dues that goes toward lobbying isn't deductible — your organization can tell you what percentage that is.
Headsets, transmitters and tour-guide systems for simultaneous interpreting are deductible supplies. Higher-cost systems get depreciated on Box 13 instead.
If you drive for work ...
If things get lost in translation when you read up on IRS rules, let us clear up car-related deductions. As long as you drive your car for work — like to pick up office supplies, meet a client, or attend an event you're interpreting — you can write off expenses related to your car.
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 — if you use the actual expense method. The standard mileage rate already covers them.
Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are deductible if you use the actual expense method. Take the standard mileage rate instead and they're already baked into your per-mile deduction.
If you discuss work at a restaurant ...
If you go to a restaurant or coffee shop to chat about a project you're working on or industry insights with a teacher, client, an author you're translating, or a fellow translator or terp, remember to claim the business meal deductions.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off — 50% of the tab.
If you leave town for work ...
Trips that are directly related to your work, like attending a translation conference or meeting with an out-of-town client, count as business trips and the costs can be written 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, your meals are 50% deductible — takeout included. (Long-haul truck drivers subject to DOT hours-of-service rules can deduct 80%.)
If you work from home ...
If you WFH on things like translation projects for clients or attending virtual meetings, you can claim home office deductions.
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs. Anything over about $2,500 gets depreciated on Form 4562 instead of written off all at once.
Repairs just for your home office are 100% deductible. Repairs to the rest of your home count too, prorated by your business-use percentage on Form 8829.
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.
You need internet to do your job! If you claim a home office, deduct it prorated on Form 8829 along with your other utilities. Internet you pay for on the road, purely for work, is 100% deductible.
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