Taxes
Tax Deductions Every Freelancer Should Know
The write-offs that are easy to miss — and the exact numbers behind each one for 2026.
Home office deduction
Two methods exist. The simplified method is $5 per square foot of dedicated office space, capped at 300 square feet — a maximum deduction of $1,500. The regular method calculates the actual percentage of your home used exclusively and regularly for business, applied to your real costs (rent, utilities, insurance) — often larger, but requires more recordkeeping. The space must be used exclusively for business; a kitchen table used for invoices at night generally doesn't qualify.
Internet and phone expenses
The business-use portion of your internet and phone bills is deductible — not the personal-use portion. If you use your phone 60% for business, 60% of the bill is a legitimate deduction.
Software and subscriptions
Tools you use to run your business — design software, project management tools, invoicing platforms — are deductible business expenses.
Travel and meals
Business travel (not commuting) and 50% of business meals with clients or at business-related events are generally deductible, provided they're documented and directly tied to your work.
Health insurance premiums
Self-employed individuals can deduct 100% of health insurance premiums as an above-the-line deduction, including marketplace plans, as long as you're not eligible for a spouse's employer-sponsored plan.
Retirement contributions
Contributions to a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) reduce your taxable income while building retirement savings. For 2026, the combined contribution cap is $72,000 across both employee and employer contributions for a Solo 401(k), with a Solo 401(k) employee deferral limit of $24,500. A SEP-IRA allows roughly 20% of net self-employment income, up to the same overall cap.
Include your deductions in your rate calculation
The calculator already applies the QBI deduction and standard deduction automatically.
Go to the free calculatorEducation and training
Courses, certifications, and training directly related to maintaining or improving skills in your current line of work are generally deductible — education for a completely different field usually isn't.
How to track deductions year-round
Waiting until tax season to reconstruct a year of expenses is the single biggest reason freelancers miss deductions. A weekly habit of logging expenses (even a simple spreadsheet) beats a perfect system used inconsistently.