As a makeup artist, you know there’s nothing so ugly that it can’t be turned into a work of art — and believe it or not, that even holds true for your taxes! By claiming the business expenses you rack up every day on the job, you’ll uncover loads of hidden beauty that most people don’t know how to see.
To help you out, we’ve gathered the best write-offs for makeup artists in one place, so you have a whole palette of savings to work with! Talk about beautiful.
Schedule C, Box 22
All of the makeup, brushes, and supplies used in your kit is tax-deductible.
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Brush cleaners, makeup remover, and other supplies to take care of your supplies are deductible.
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Membership fees you pay to get discounts from beauty stores can be written off.
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Fees to get or renew your license to perform your work are fully deductible.
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Keeping up with the latest trends and techniques with books and courses can be written off.
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Print and online advertising costs for your business are considered write-offs.
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Squarespace, Wix, GoDaddy, and other website service fees are fully tax-deductible.
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Write off the tools you use to create assets, schedule posts, or pull analytics.
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If you need to hire an editor, designer, photographer, or other creative pro, write off what you pay them.
Working as a makeup artist naturally involves a lot of face-to-face interaction, whether you're meeting with a client to discuss their needs for an upcoming event or driving to someone's home to do their makeup.
Luckily, driving for work allows you to deduct a portion of your car expenses which can help save you money on your taxes.
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!
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If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.
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Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.
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Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible.
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Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are all tax-deductible if you drive for work.
Networking is likely a big part of your job as a makeup artist.
Luckily, it counts as a business meal if you go to a restaurant with a client to discuss a brief or grab a work-related coffee with a fellow makeup artist or beauty industry coworker (like a manicurist or esthetician).
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If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
If you find yourself packing up your brushes and palettes for an out-of-town job, conference, training session, or networking event, remember that your travel expenses can be claimed on your taxes.
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Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.
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When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write offs.
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When you're traveling for work, all meals are tax-deductible. Even takeout!
If you run your makeup business out of your home, you can claim a portion of home office expenses such as internet and rent.
Don't forget to include the hours you spend on things like practicing makeup trends, working on lead generation and advertising, taking online courses, and managing paperwork and finances.
Schedule C, Box 18
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.
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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!
