Got a way with words? If you have experience creating content for websites, email marketing, social media and more, then you could make a comfortable living as a freelance copywriter.
However, whether you’re just doing some freelance work on the side or have made freelance copywriting your main hustle, we don’t want you to miss out on tax write-offs that can help you keep more of the money you make.
Have you purchased a new computer? How about a new cell phone, keyboard, printer, monitor, or mouse? They’re all deductible.
Most of us use our phones for work and freelance copywriters are no exception. Good thing your phone bill can be a partial tax write-off.
Your website is your virtual storefront. All those pesky hosting fees, along with any plugins, stock photos and themes are write-offs.
Use a CRM to keep track of clients? Pay for cloud computing, productivity or collaboration tools like Google Suite to manage your work? These are tax-deductible expenses.
Depending on your workload, you might think of hiring a virtual assistant or other contractors to support your clients. Their fees are tax write-offs.
Payment processing software like PayPal or Wave can make getting paid a breeze, but those fees can add up. Fortunately, they’re also tax write-offs. Your bank fees are tax-deductible too!
If you take an online course to help hone your craft, or subscribe to industry journals or publications, write off those fees.
Send out a monthly e-newsletter to keep your clients? Or maybe you recently made some snazzy business cards. Advertising or other costs that go towards promoting your business are tax write-offs.
Oftentimes, it’s worth it to connect with potential clients IRL. Fortunately, those tickets are also tax-deductible.
We get it. That's why we've built Benji to find tax write-offs automagically. On average, it takes less than 5 minutes for freelancers to find tax write-offs with Benji.
If you do at least some of your freelance copywriting work from a dedicated work area at home, you can claim business-use-of-home deductions.
Keep in mind, that you don't need to work from a separate room to claim these write-offs. A dedicated desk is enough.
Your heating bill? Hydro? Water? A portion of these utility costs is tax-deductible.
It’d be pretty hard to do much work without a decent WiFi connection. Write it off!
It doesn’t matter if you pay rent or own your home. A portion of those expenses are tax-deductible. This includes mortgage interest, but not the principal.
Depending on where you live, you may have to pay a pretty penny in property taxes. But if you’re a freelancer, a portion of these costs are tax write-offs.
Whether you have rental or homeowner insurance, you can write off a portion as part of home office write-offs.
Do you get your home professionally cleaned from time to time? Home maintenance costs are partially deductible
A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.
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Depending on how you work, you may not feel comfortable meeting with your clients at your house or local coffee shop. If that’s the case, you might be looking into a coworking space membership or taking them out for lunch.
Regardless of where you meet your clients, the costs associated with these outings are partially tax-deductible.
If you work out of a coworking space or book a meeting room to chat with a client, these expenses can be written off.
If you drive to meet with a client, to coffee with a coworker, or a conference — you can claim car-related write-offs. These include expenses like gas, car maintenance, insurance and registration, parking, tolls, and the annual depreciation of your car.
If you’re discussing work with a client at a restaurant or cafe, it's a write-off!
Even though you might spend 90% of your time working behind a computer, there will probably be times where you will need to venture out into the world as a part of your freelance work. For instance, maybe you meet up with clients at the end of every project. Perhaps you have regular catch-up sessions with a mentor or are planning on heading to a conference in another province.
Whether you travel by plane, train or automobile, any costs related to business travel are tax-deductible.
If you’re travelling out of the city or out of the country, airfare, train tickets and rental car fees can also be written off.
When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb bookings are write-offs.
When you're traveling for work, all meals are tax-deductible. Yup, even takeout.
