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Are Commission And Fees A Self-Employed Tax Deduction?

Commissions and fees can be a lifesaver for self-employed individuals when it comes to tax time. These expenses aren’t always at the top of any self-employed tax deduction list, but they can be a useful write-off to reduce taxable income. If you're a freelance salesperson or work in a field where you earn commissions for your services, there’s good news.Those commissions are usually deductible. As a self-employed individual, you will likely encounter various fees while running your business. These include membership dues, or subscription fees for software or tools essential to your work. Any fees directly related to your line of work can be written off your taxes. The IRS "commissions and fees" deduction includes a broad spectrum of expenses tied to financial transactions. It includes costs like brokerage commissions when buying or selling securities, fees paid for certain legal services, and investment management fees for financial advisory services. Additionally, administrative fees associated with individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or 401(k) retirement plans, as well as loan origination fees and interest expenses for certain investment-related loans can also be part of this deduction.

Table of contents

Key takeaways...Read more

Are HOA fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are legal fees tax deductible? ...Read more

Are tax preparation fees tax deductible in 2023?...Read more

Are consultant fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are commission fees tax deductible? ...Read more

Are investment fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are lawyer fees tax deductible? ...Read more

Are vehicle registration fees tax deductible? ...Read more

Are credit card fees tax deductible? ...Read more

Are PayPal fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are brokerage fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are bank fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are advisory fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are accountant fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are college fees tax deductible? ...Read more

Are licenses and regulatory fees tax deductible?...Read more

Are membership fees tax deductible?...Read more

Key takeaways

Commission can be a self-employed tax deduction.
Costs like professional fees and car registration fees are also tax-deductible.
Commissions and fees should be reported on Line 10 on Schedule C.

Are HOA fees tax deductible?

If you’re a homeowner, you might be a part of a HOA (Homeowners Association). HOAs are in charge of maintaining the community you live in. For this, they charge residents an annual fee. So, it’s natural to wonder if your HOA fees are tax deductible. According to the IRS, HOA fees can be tax deductible if you purchased your home to be a rental property. In that case, HOA fees are considered a rental expense and, consequently, a business expense. So, if you’re an Airbnb host, your HOA fees are fully tax-deductible as long as you don’t treat the property as your primary place of residence. If you also live in your property for part of the year, you can only deduct the business portion of your HOA fees. Another part of being a homeowner is dealing with insurance. Every homeowner needs insurance to protect their property from damages or theft. But is homeowners insurance deductible? You can claim homeowners insurance as a deductible expense in two instances. If you’re self-employed and have a home office or workspace, you can deduct the business portion of your homeowner insurance premium. If you’re a landlord, you can deduct homeowner insurance on your rental property. However, you’ll need to calculate the business percentage of the insurance expenses if it’s also used as a personal residence.

Are legal fees tax deductible?

If you incur any legal fees related to your business, you can usually write them off. Even if you were involved in a legal case related to your work, you can write off those fees regardless of the case’s outcome.

Infographic entitled What Legal Fees Are Tax Deductible in 2023 listing four types of tax-deductible legal fees.

Are tax preparation fees tax deductible in 2023?

Only self-employed taxpayers can deduct tax preparation fees as business expenses. You can deduct the preparation fees for the self-employment portion of your returns, as that is considered a business expense. Form 1040 is your personal tax return, so it doesn't count as an ordinary and necessary expense. Apart from deducting preparation fees, you can also deduct the cost of using a tax software program (like FlyFin) and any fees you incur if you e-file your taxes. FlyFin can track your income and calculate your estimated tax payments. A.I. finds every business deduction you can use to lower your self-employment taxes, and CPAs provide unlimited support, including handling all your returns. If your tax prep fees are deductible, you should report them on Line 17 of Schedule C. This deduction is only available till 2025, so it's a good idea to take advantage of it while you can.

Are consultant fees tax deductible?

Let’s say you’re a small business owner who hired a marketing consultant to develop a new advertising strategy. The consultant's fee amounted to $5,000. Since this expense was directly related to improving and promoting your business, you can deduct the consultant fees as a legitimate business expense. This reduces your taxable income and improves your business's bottom line.

Are commission fees tax deductible?

Commission fees related to your business activities are generally tax-deductible. Say you’re a freelance real estate agent. These fees would be a legitimate business expense that helps reduce your taxable income, thereby lowering your overall tax liability. So, it qualifies as a tax deduction. Having a low taxable income is beneficial when making estimated tax payments. Use an estimated tax calculator to find out whether your estimated tax liability is over $1,000. Commissions are reported on Line 10, Schedule C.

Are investment fees tax deductible?

Under current tax laws, investment advisory fees for personal investments aren’t tax-deductible. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that came into effect in 2018 eliminated many miscellaneous itemized deductions, including most investment fees. You can still write off investment interest as a deduction if you itemize your personal expenses on Schedule A. While this doesn’t affect your self-employment taxes, it does help lower income taxes.

Are lawyer fees tax deductible?

Legal fees can be deductible in certain situations. For example, legal expenses related to your business, such as hiring an attorney for contract review or resolving a business dispute, are often deductible. You can also deduct fees paid to lawyers to help deal with the IRS in case of an audit. However, personal legal fees, like divorce or personal lawsuits, are usually not deductible. This also includes hiring a lawyer to help you purchase assets for personal use.

Are vehicle registration fees tax deductible?

Car registration fees are tax deductible for self-employed individuals who drive their car for work. This includes rideshare and delivery drivers. You’ll need to calculate the business use percentage of your vehicle and then deduct the same percentage of your registration fees. You can use a car mileage tax calculator to find the number of business miles driven and calculate your business percentage. Apart from car registration fees, certain other vehicle-related expenses are also tax deductible.

Infographic entitled Vehicle Business Deductions listing tax deductible expenses apart from car registration fees.

Are credit card fees tax deductible?

If you’re self-employed and have a separate credit card for your business, those fees can be deductible as a business expense. Make sure that these fees are directly related to your business activities and that you don’t use this card for personal expenses.

Are PayPal fees tax deductible?

Let’s use a real-life example. You run an Etsy store and accept payments through PayPal. Over the course of the year, you paid $1,200 in PayPal transaction fees. These fees are considered a cost of doing business, so you can deduct them as business expenses on Schedule C.

Are brokerage fees tax deductible?

Until 2025, any broker fees paid to managing a type of brokerage account are not tax deductible. This is because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed in 2018. However, if you’re a self-employed real estate agent, you can deduct broker fees as a valid business expense.

Are bank fees tax deductible?

Let’s say you operate a small woodworking business and maintain a separate business bank account. You incurred $300 in bank fees for various account services throughout the year. These bank fees are a legitimate business expense and are tax deductible. You can only deduct bank fees related to a business account. Personal fees cannot be written off.

Are advisory fees tax deductible?

Advisory fees related to your investments reported on a Form 1099 are typically not tax-deductible for individual investors. However, there can be exceptions. If your advisory fees are associated with tax-advantaged accounts like Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) or 401(k)s, these fees may still be deductible to some extent.

Are accountant fees tax deductible?

Say you’re a freelance graphic designer who hired an accountant to help with your tax returns. You paid the accountant $800 for their services. When you file your tax return, the accountant fees are deductible since they’re ordinary and necessary for your business. A 1099 tax calculator can help find deductions that can lower self-employment income.

Are college fees tax deductible?

College tuition fees are considered personal expenses and cannot be used as a business deduction. However, self-employed individuals who take classes or certificates to further their careers can deduct that and other educational expenses from their taxes. These expenses can only be incurred to strengthen your current career. If you take any classes to pivot into a new job, those expenses cannot be deducted.

Infographic entitled Educational Expense Write-Offs that can be written off apart from tax-deductible college fees.

Are licenses and regulatory fees tax deductible?

Licenses and regulatory fees related to your self-employed work as a 1099 contractor are typically tax-deductible. These fees are considered necessary business expenses, and you can deduct them on your income tax return to lower your taxable income. For instance, fees associated with obtaining or renewing professional licenses relevant to your specific trade or occupation are typically eligible for deduction. If you work as a real estate agent, the cost of renewing your real estate license is an example of a deductible expense. Similarly, fees related to business permits, registrations or local business licenses required for the legitimate operation of your self-employed business can also be deducted. This includes permits mandated by local governments to ensure compliance with the law while conducting business. If your industry demands adherence to specific regulations and incurs associated fees, such as healthcare providers complying with HIPAA regulations, these fees are also generally tax-deductible. Additionally, occupational taxes imposed by some municipalities on self-employed individuals are usually deductible. Membership dues and fees paid to professional or trade associations relevant to your field are also eligible for deduction. These associations frequently offer resources and networking opportunities beneficial to your business growth.

Are membership fees tax deductible?

The IRS generally doesn't allow you to deduct money spent on memberships in clubs or groups organized for business, leisure, recreation, or socializing. This includes country clubs, sports clubs, hotel clubs, fitness clubs and clubs where people often have business meetings over meals. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Self-employed individuals can deduct certain club memberships if they are directly related to their line of work or professional development.

Infographic entitled Tax-deductible Membership Fees listing membership fees that can be written off by 1099 workers.

Knowing the tax implications of commissions and fees is vital for self-employed individuals seeking to optimize their tax savings. While not all commissions and fees are automatically tax-deductible, it's important to do your research and claim the ones you can. Commission fees directly tied to your business activities are generally eligible for tax deductions. So whether you're a real estate agent, a sales professional or any other self-employed individual relying on commissions, you need to be tracking and deducting these expenses. When it comes to fees, remember to separate personal and business expenses. While fees related to your business, such as legal or accounting services, are typically deductible, personal fees, like those for non-business credit cards or bank accounts, may not be. Just be sure to keep meticulous records and receipts to prove all your deductible expenses were necessary for your business operations.

Office Supplies Tax Deduction

Office supplies are tax deductible for self-employed individuals and can be reported under the office expenses category on Schedule C.