28 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Writers
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. What could be better than getting paid to write? How about getting a lower tax bill simply because you’re paid to write? It’s true: as a freelance writer, you’re entitled to write off any ordinary business expense from your taxes. Whether it’s a writing conference or a new laptop, the purchases you make to further your career can also help you save money. So get those keys clacking, because there’s savings in your keyboard!
Educational books to increase your knowledge and skills are tax write-offs.
Software for CRM, lead generation, or email marketing is a write-off.
Legal fees paid to set up your business or draw up paperwork are deductible.
Business cards, postcards, and other materials used to promote yourself are deductible.
Software you use for invoicing, tracking expenses, creating timesheets, and so on is deductible.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
All conferences and retreats you attend to enhance your writing and network can be written off
Courses, conferences, workshops, and premium listservs: write off anything you pay for to enhance your design skills or further your career.
Databases, apps, and other tools used to research a topic you're writing about can be written off.
If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
If you pay for cloud data storage to store files for work, it's a write-off.
Writing tools like Grammarly and Hemingway are tax-deductible. So are word processors like Scrivener and transcription software for interviews.
If you drive for work ...
Freelance writers spend a lot of time at their desks with a thought bubble above their heads almost visible. But you also might need to step away to pick up office supplies, or to drive to a client meeting, conference, seminar, writing class, or network event. When you use your car for such work-related purposes, you can write off a portion of 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 ...
Meeting editors, agents, lawyers, graphic designers, or fellow writers to talk about work over food or drink might not be a novel idea, but it is a good one: networking and information-sharing are key to success as a freelancer.And the good news is these business meals are tax-deductible.
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off! Keep in mind business meals are only 50% deductible.
If you leave town for work ...
Not all out-of-town conferences, seminars, classes, or client meetings will end up being something to write home about. But you can write travel costs associated with those trips off on your taxes, as they qualify as business trips.
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 a write-off, even takeout. Like all business meals, they're 50% deductible, whether you eat on the road or close to home.
If you work from home ...
You don't have to be at home working from Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, to claim home office deductions. As a freelance writer, you likely set your own hours and decide when to work on completing assignments, researching topics, client development, finance and expense management, and marketing services.So long as the majority of this work happens from a designated workspace in your home, you can write home office expenses off on your taxes.
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.
A repair only to your home office is deductible in full. A repair to the whole home is an indirect expense, so you deduct it in proportion to your home office 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? You water bill counts.
Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!
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