Communities are better off thanks to social workers who devote their careers to helping others.
Here at Keeper, we'd like to help make filing self-employment taxes a little simpler! Starting with a list of easy tax write-offs for independent social workers.
From professional membership fees to office supplies — and even the money you spend on gas when you drive to meet clients counts as a business write-off. Keep this list handy the next time you file your taxes, and watch your tax savings grow.
Schedule C, Box 18
Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.
Schedule C, Box 27a
Educational courses and certifications to enhance your skills are considered tax write-offs.
Schedule C, Box 27a
Reference books you use for research or to hone your industry knowledge are write-offs.
Schedule C, Box 27a
If you belong to any professional organizations, you can write off the dues.
Schedule C, Box 27a
Coaching, seminars, or workshops used to maintain your work-related skills can be written off.
Even if you only use your car once in a while for work, like to meet with a client, attend a court hearing, or pick up office supplies, you can still write off your 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.
While meetings have increasingly gone virtual, there's still an important place in business for face-to-face interaction. If you meet with an administrator, mentor, or fellow social worker to chat about work-related matters, you can write the cost off as a business expense.
Schedule C, Box 24b
If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!
Whether you fly, train, or rent a car to travel to a social work conference in another city, you can write off your transportation costs. This also counts for other costs associated with your trip, like lodging.
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!
As a self-employed social worker, you might work from home on things like industry research, paperwork and emails, and attending virtual meetings.
This qualifies you to claim home office deductions.
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!
