25 Tax Write-Offs for Estheticians
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.812112
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.Estheticians know the value of exfoliating. But how often do you think about the buildup that happens when you fail to take proper care of your finances? Too often, self-employed estheticians don’t take the write-offs they’re entitled to on their taxes, leaving an oily layer on their tax returns.
We’ve made it easier than ever to scrub this clean, leaving your wallet fresh and clear. Simply use the write-offs on this page, and marvel at how much prettier your tax bill becomes.
Anything you use for facials or skincare for your clients is considered a write-off.
Write off decor like candles, pictures, and plants you use to create the right atmosphere for clients.
Spotify, Pandora, or other music streaming services you use while with clients are write-offs.
Fees to renew your license to perform your work are fully deductible.
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.
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
Pay any one contractor $600 or more in a year and you'll need to file a Form 1099-NEC for them.
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.
Facial steamers, LED therapy devices, microdermabrasion machines and treatment tables are depreciated over time. Smaller tools can be expensed as supplies on Box 22.
Skincare products you buy to resell to clients are cost of goods sold, separate from the products you use during a service.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
If you drive for work ...
Don't forget to add car expenses to your Schedule C if you have to drive for work, like to pick up skincare supplies or meet with a client.
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 ...
The business meal deduction includes grabbing a coffee with a fellow esthetician to share industry insights or going for dinner with a client to discuss a haircare or skincare routine.
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 ...
As a rule of thumb, all travel-related expenses on a business trip, like an out-of-town industry conference or client meeting, are tax-deductible.
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 clients come to you for your services, you can claim expenses related to running an at-home esthetician business, like a portion of your rent or internet.
You should also take into account the hours you spend on client development, lead generation, taking online esthetician courses, or creating ads.
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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