25 Tax Write-Offs for Freelance Teachers & Tutors
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.611000
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.Whether you teach online or in person, your day's spent helping others learn. So you might not want to spend your after-school hours teaching yourself how to file your self-employment taxes. We're here to help make the learning curve a little less steep with a list of common write-offs for independent teachers and tutors.
From classroom supplies (including virtual backdrops if you teach online!) to the cost of flying to an out-of-town education conference, there's a long list of deductions you can claim to save money on your taxes.
Decorations to make your classroom (or filming backdrop) learning-friendly are tax write-offs.
Deduct any props you use during lessons to help students understand concepts.
From gold stars to bigger prizes, rewards for student achievements can be deducted.
Computers, extra monitors, webcams, and microphones needed to teach are write-offs.
Turnitin, Copyscape, or other software you use to grade papers or teach can be written off.
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.
Paper, stickers, and other supplies to make signs or decorate bulletin boards are deductible.
Software you use to build lesson presentations and slideshows for students is a write-off.
Branded clothing your school requires you to wear on camera is a write-off. Ordinary clothes you teach in don't count, even if you only wear them for work.
Pre-made curriculum and lesson plans you buy from places like Teachers Pay Teachers are deductible.
Fees for required background checks to do your job are deductible.
Protecting yourself and your business with liability insurance? It's a write-off.
Fees to renew your license to perform your work are fully deductible.
The cut Stripe, PayPal, Square or your invoicing platform takes on each payment is a write-off.
If you drive for work ...
As a teacher, you might spend school nights or weekends picking up classroom and office materials or driving to and from school.
If that's the case, you can write off vehicle-related expenses.
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 the purpose is to talk about work, meeting with an administrator, fellow teacher, or student's parents at a restaurant counts as a business meal. So you can deduct the costs on your Schedule C.
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 ...
If you get hired for a short-term teaching gig abroad, or attend a teaching conference in a different city, you can claim business trip 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 ...
Whether you teach virtually on a full-time basis or take care of extracurricular tasks from an at-home workspace, like grading papers or lesson planning, you can write home office deductions off on your Schedule C.
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.
You may also enjoy learning about ...
Your Guide to Computer Tax Write-Offs
For freelancers and self-employed people, the computers you use for work are tax-deductible. You can write off the full cost, or depreciate it.
By Keeper Staff
How To Deduct Your Cell Phone Bill on Your Taxes
What Education Expenses Are Tax-Deductible in 2026?
The Digital Nomads’ Guide to Filing Taxes Outside the US
The Last Schedule C Guide You'll Ever Need
How To File Your Self-Employment Taxes in 7 Easy Steps
Track and claim every eligible deduction with Keeper
Keeper scans your accounts for write-offs and files your return — with tax pros reviewing every one.
Try it free