Author: Can I Deduct This
Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit 2025: How Much You Can Claim
If you pay someone to care for your child or another dependent so you can work or look for work, the Child and Dependent Care Credit can offset a meaningful chunk of that cost. It’s often overlooked because people confuse it with the Child Tax Credit, but the two are entirely separate benefits with different…
Business Startup Costs Deduction: What New Businesses Can Write Off in 2025
Starting a business costs money before you ever earn your first dollar of revenue — market research, legal fees, signage, initial marketing, and training all add up. The good news is the IRS lets you deduct a portion of these startup costs immediately, with the rest recovered over time. The $5,000 Immediate Deduction New businesses…
Casualty and Theft Loss Tax Deduction: What Still Qualifies in 2025
Losing property to a fire, storm, or theft is stressful enough without discovering that the tax deduction you remember from years ago has gotten much narrower. Current law limits casualty and theft loss deductions significantly compared to before 2018, but the deduction hasn’t disappeared entirely. The Federally Declared Disaster Requirement Under current rules, personal casualty…
Legal and Professional Fees Deduction: What’s Deductible for Your Business in 2025
Attorney fees, accountant bills, and consultant invoices are a normal part of running a business, and most of them are fully deductible. The confusion usually comes from a handful of exceptions where legal and professional fees have to be capitalized or spread out instead of deducted immediately. The General Rule for Legal and Professional Fees…
Continuing Education and Professional License Deductions (2025)
Keeping a professional license current or staying sharp in your field costs money every year — continuing education hours, license renewal fees, conference registration, and certification exams all add up. For self-employed workers, most of this is deductible, though the rules depend on whether the education maintains your current skills or qualifies you for a…
DoorDash, Instacart & Grocery Delivery Driver Tax Deductions (2025)
If you deliver for DoorDash, Instacart, Uber Eats, Amazon Flex, or a similar app, the IRS treats you as a self-employed contractor. You’ll report your earnings on Schedule C and pay self-employment tax on your net profit — but that profit is calculated after subtracting your real business costs, and delivery drivers usually have more…
Etsy and Online Seller Tax Deductions: What E-Commerce Sellers Can Write Off (2025)
If you sell on Etsy, Shopify, Amazon, eBay, or your own online store, the IRS treats you as a self-employed business owner the moment you’re selling with the intent to make a profit. That means Schedule C, self-employment tax on your net profit, and — the good part — a long list of deductible expenses…
Content Creator and Influencer Tax Deductions (2025)
Content creators, YouTubers, and social media influencers who earn money from brand deals, ad revenue, affiliate links, or platform payouts are running a business in the eyes of the IRS. That means Schedule C, self-employment tax on net profit, and access to a wide range of deductions tied directly to how creators actually work. Why…
Truck Driver Tax Deductions: What CDL Drivers Can Write Off in 2025
Long-haul and local truck drivers who own their rig or lease it as an owner-operator face some of the highest deductible expenses of any profession, simply because running a truck is expensive. Even company drivers who receive a W-2 have a narrower but still meaningful set of deductions available. Here’s what applies in 2025. Owner-Operators…