• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

'Skills nobody can take': Meet a 20-year-old with a 4.5 GPA who skipped college for technical school to land an 'AI-proof' career

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme

1

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

2

'Skills nobody can take': Meet a 20-year-old with a 4.5 GPA who skipped college for technical school to land an 'AI-proof' career

3

China suffers another setback in effort to de-dollarize global finance as anchor in the greenback's dominance quietly exits Beijing's payment scheme
Taxes

What kind of expenses can I write off if I am self-employed?

By
Money
Money
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Money
Money
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 13, 2015, 10:57 AM ET
486989099
US Tax DayPhotograph by Getty Images/Moment Open
Google source logo
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

This post is in partnership with Money. The article below was originally published at Money.com.

In addition to the same deductions taken by folks who are employed by others, you can also deduct most expenses related to doing your job. This includes office space, supplies, equipment, business use of your car and telephone, internet and so on.

Plus, if you work from home, you can deduct a percentage of your housing costs (including mortgage, taxes, utilities), based on the percentage of your home used as your workspace. This write off can be very valuable. The catch is that the space must be used exclusively and regularly for work. So the couch where you also sit to watch TV probably doesn’t count, but your home office will. Think about whether it would pass muster as being primarily a site of business activity if an auditor came to your home.

Travel and entertainment related directly to work are another big source of deductions, but that doesn’t mean you can write off family vacations and dinners with your friends. If your travel is for work and pleasure, for example, you’ll need to allocate expenses accordingly. Even meals with clients and other business contacts, moreover, only count for a 50% break.

Also, if you don’t have access to an employer-sponsored plan, such as from your spouse, you can deduct 100% of your health insurance premiums, including dental and long-term care, for you, your spouse and your dependents.

Watch more business news from Fortune:

About the Author
By Money
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Careers


Most Popular

Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

    Latest in Careers


    Most Popular

    © 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
    FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.