Self –Employed check List
(Print Friendly Version) 


Common tax deductible expenses for a home based business (The business space does not have to be a full room, but it absolutely must be exclusive): 

  

____ Mortgage interest, real property taxes, PMI insurance  

____ Utilities, such as natural gas, electric, propane 

____ Trash service, pest control service 

____ Home insurance 

____ Regular maintenance of the home 

____ Depreciation of the business part of the home 

____maintenance of the home 



Vehicle Expenses 

____Depreciation of the purchase cost of the vehicle  

____Insurance  

____Interest  

____Auto license plate fees and taxes  

____Oil changes and other regular maintenance  

____Car washes 

____Gasoline or other fuel 

____Repairs 


Other Expenses 

____ Advertising  

____ Commissions paid  

____ Contract Labor 

____ Interest on a business loan 

____ Parking and tolls for business travel 

____ Equipment purchases 

____ Accounting and legal fees for the business 

____ Health insurance premiums  

____ Office Supplies 

____ Business liability insurance 

____ Rent of business equipment 

____ Rent or lease of storage facilities 

____ Rent or lease of business space 

____ Maintenance and repairs of equipment or business space 

____ Shop supplies 

____ Business property taxes 

____ Business travel - hotel, parking, air and bus fares, taxis 

____ Internet service  

____ Web site hosting, design, and domain names 

____ Cell Phones  

____ Telephone, fax machine line 

____ Long distance phone charges and phone cards for business calls 

____ Books, newspapers, magazines for business purposes 

____ Association and membership fees 

____ Meals and entertainment  

____ Utilities - Electric, heat, gas, etc 

____ Cost of inventory items that sold (do not inc

____ Donated inventory 

____ Merchant fees for your credit card sales 

____ Bank service charges on your business accounts 

____ Depreciation on the cost of furniture and equipment that you owned before you started the business, such as desks, computers, file cabinets, etc 

____ Answering services 

____ Postage and shipping 

____ Education and seminars - must be related to your current business, not for a new career 

____ Customer gifts 

____ Software purchases 

____ Software subscriptions, such as security software 

____ Bank service charges