24 Tax Write-Offs for Massage Therapists
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.621399
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.As a massage therapist, your day is focused on physical and mental health — but what about your financial health? A well-maintained wallet is an important part of self-care, and one of the easiest ways you can practice that is by reducing your tax bill.
Independent massage therapists can write off any ordinary business expense from their taxes, and we’ve made things even easier by putting all the best tax write-offs for massage therapists in one place. So light some incense and prepare to be soothed, because these savings will relax even the tensest muscles.
Massage tables, chairs, and linens are write-offs for you.
Linens and other low-cost consumables stay on Box 22 as supplies.
Oils, lotions, stones, and other accessories used to give massages are deductible.
Any required certifications or licensing fees can be deducted.
If you rent an office, studio, or room at a spa, that's a tax write-off.
Membership dues to the American Massage Therapy Association and similar orgs can be deducted.
The share of your dues that goes toward lobbying isn't deductible — your organization can tell you what percentage that is.
Your phone, its monthly bill, and accessories are all partially deductible, in proportion to business use. The phone itself is depreciated on Box 13 (or expensed under Section 179); the monthly bill belongs on Box 27b, and accessories on Box 22.
Legal fees paid to set up your business or draw up paperwork are deductible.
Spotify, Pandora, or other music streaming services you use while with clients are write-offs.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
Mindbody, Vagaro, Square Appointments and similar booking tools are deductible. Per-transaction cuts they take belong on Box 10 instead.
If you drive for work ...
If your business model includes making house calls, you likely spend a fair amount of time driving for work. Remember to write off your car-related expenses on your Schedule C!
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 ...
If you head to a restaurant to chat about new findings in the massage therapy world with clients, coaches, or fellow massage therapists, it counts as a business expense.
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 ...
When you take the train to another town to meet with a massage client or fly to an out-of-state industry conference or seminar, remember to write off your travel-related expenses.
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 you offer massage therapy from your home, you can of course deduct home office expenses on your taxes.
This also counts if you take care of administrative and business development work from home, such as booking appointments, marketing, and client development.
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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