From icon sets to social media ads, designers like you are the backbone of making our digital world functional and beautiful. But did you know that being a freelance graphic or UX designer means you get access to unique tax savings?
Any ordinary business expense that you encounter as you slay the beasts of blank space and bland design can help reduce your tax bill. And we’ve made it even easier, by creating a shortcut list of the best write-offs for graphic designers. No special brush sets required.
Schedule C, Box 18
Photoshop, InDesign, and any other design software you need can be written off.
Schedule C, Box 18
Computers, extra monitors, webcams, and microphones needed to teach are write-offs.
Schedule C, Box 8
Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
Schedule C, Box 27a
Courses, conferences, workshops, and premium listservs: write off anything you pay for to enhance your design skills or further your career.
Schedule C, Box 11
If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
Schedule C, Box 8
Ad campaigns on Google, Meta, TikTok, and more are all deductible on your taxes.
Schedule C, Box 27a
Fonts, brushes, stock images, and any other digital assets you use for design are deductible.
Schedule C, Box 18
Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.
Schedule C, Box 8
Business cards, postcards, and other materials used to promote yourself are deductible.
Schedule C, Box 18
If you pay for cloud data storage to store files for work, it's a write-off.
If you drive a car for your 1099 graphic design work, like to attend a networking event or client meeting, or to pick up office supplies, you can claim a tax write-off on the associated car expenses.
Schedule C, Box 27a
Parking for a meeting downtown, or any other work trip, is tax-deductible!
Schedule C, Box 27a
A toll while driving to or from a work destination is tax-deductible!
Schedule C, Box 13
If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.
Schedule C, Box 22
Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.
Schedule C, Box 15
Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible.
Schedule C, Box 9
Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are all tax-deductible if you drive for work.
Stocking your home office with food doesn't count as a business expense.However, going to a coffee shop or restaurant with clients or fellow graphic designers can be written off as a business meal if the purpose of the meeting is to talk about work.
Schedule C, Box 24b
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
Let us paint you a picture: You head out of town for thee days to attend a graphic design conference. You spend 2.5 of those days on travel and networking at the conference, and half a day exploring the town. This still counts as a deductible business trip, because the majority of your time was spent on work! This also counts for other work-related trips, like workshops or client meetings.
Schedule C, Box 24a
Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.
Schedule C, Box 24a
When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write offs.
Schedule C, Box 24a
When you're traveling for work, all meals are tax-deductible. Even takeout!
If you use your designated workspace to make personal calls once in a while, that's fine. But to claim the home office deduction, you should spend the majority of your time there on work-related matters, like creating designs for a client, coming up with marketing and advertising assets, or working on client development.
Schedule C, Box 18
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.
Schedule C, Box 21
You can write off up to $2,500 for individual repairs to your property.
Form 8829
Gotta keep the lights on in your home office! A portion of your electricity bill counts.
Form 8829
Whether it's rental or homeowners insurance, you can write off a portion through your home office deduction.
Form 8829
It'd be hard to work in an office without running water, huh? You water bill counts.
Schedule C, Box 25
Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!
