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Tax Deduction Checklist
Digital Product
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About this book
Many people miss deductions they were entitled to simply because they never knew to look for them. This checklist helps you work through the possibilities before you file, using United States tax categories.
One section covers self-employed and freelance deductions, including home office, vehicle, professional services, software, marketing, equipment, education, insurance and retirement. Another covers deductions for employees, including above-the-line and itemised deductions, with a worksheet for comparing the standard deduction and itemising. A third looks at life events, such as education, family, home ownership, medical costs and retirement savings. A document tracker lists the papers to gather.
A filled-in example for a self-employed graphic designer shows how it works. It is an organising aid, not tax advice; confirm anything you claim with a qualified tax professional.
Look inside
Self-Employed / Freelancer / 1099 Deductions (Schedule C)
Home Office
- Home office square footage: sq ft
- Total home square footage: sq ft
- Percentage of home used for business: %
- Rent or mortgage interest (business portion): $
- Utilities (business portion): $
- Internet (business portion): $
- Renter's/homeowner's insurance (business portion): $
- Simplified method elected ($5/sq ft, max 300 sq ft): $
Vehicle / Transportation
- Business miles driven:
- Standard mileage rate deduction: $
- OR actual expenses (gas, insurance, repairs, depreciation): $
- Parking and tolls (business): $
- Public transit for business travel: $
Professional Services
- Accounting / bookkeeping fees: $
- Legal fees (business-related): $
- Tax preparation fees (business portion): $
- Consulting / coaching fees: $
Software & Subscriptions
- Design software (Canva, Adobe, etc.): $
- Accounting software (QuickBooks, FreshBooks, etc.): $
- Project management tools: $
- Website hosting and domain: $
- Email marketing platform: $
- Industry-specific software: $
Marketing & Advertising
- Social media ads: $
- Google / search ads: $
- Business cards and print materials: $
- Website design / updates: $
Equipment & Supplies
- Office furniture (desk, chair): $
- Office supplies (paper, ink, etc.): $
- Raw materials / inventory: $
Education & Development
- Online courses (business-related): $
- Books and publications (business): $
- Conference / event registration: $
- Certification / license fees: $
Insurance
- Self-employed health insurance premium: $
- Business liability insurance: $
- Professional liability / E&O insurance: $
Retirement
- SEP IRA contributions: $
- Solo 401(k) contributions: $
- SIMPLE IRA contributions: $
Other Self-Employment
- Self-employment tax deduction (50% of SE tax): auto-calculated
- Bank and merchant processing fees: $
- Phone (business percentage): $
- Meals (business, 50%): $
- Travel (flights, hotels for business): $
- Contract labor / subcontractors: $
W-2 Employee Deductions & Above-the-Line Deductions
Above-the-Line (Available Even If You Take Standard Deduction)
- Traditional IRA contributions: $
- Student loan interest (up to $2,500): $
- Educator expenses (up to $300): $
- Alimony paid (pre-2019 agreements): $
Itemized Deductions (Schedule A)
- State and local taxes paid (SALT, up to $10,000): $
- Charitable donations (cash): $
- Charitable donations (goods — describe and value): $
- Medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of AGI: $
- Casualty and theft losses (federally declared disaster): $
Standard Deduction vs. Itemized Decision
- Single — $15,000 — $
- Married Filing Jointly — $30,000 — $
- Head of Household — $22,500 — $
Which is higher? Standard / Itemized (circle one)
Life Event Deductions & Credits
Education Credits
- American Opportunity Credit (up to $2,500/student): $
- Lifetime Learning Credit (up to $2,000): $
- 529 plan state tax deduction: $
Family
- Child Tax Credit: $ x children
- Child and Dependent Care Credit: $
- Earned Income Tax Credit: $
Home Ownership
- Property taxes (included in SALT): $
- Energy-efficient home improvement credit: $
- Residential clean energy credit (solar, etc.): $
Health & Medical
- Unreimbursed medical expenses: $
- Long-term care insurance premiums: $
Retirement Savings
- Saver's Credit (income-eligible): $
- Traditional IRA deduction: $
- 401(k) / 403(b) / 457 contributions: $
Document Tracker
- W-2 (from each employer) —
- 1099-NEC (freelance income) —
- 1099-MISC —
- 1099-INT (interest income) —
- 1099-DIV (dividend income) —
- 1099-B (investment sales) —
- 1099-K (payment platforms) —
- 1098 (mortgage interest) —
- 1098-T (tuition) —
- 1098-E (student loan interest) —
- 1095-A/B/C (health insurance) —
- Property tax statements —
- Charitable donation receipts —
- Business expense receipts —
- Mileage log —
- Home office measurements —
- Prior year tax return —
- State tax payment records —
- Estimated tax payment records —
Filled-In Example (Self-Employed Graphic Designer)
Name: Alex | Tax Year: 2025 | Filing Status: Single
Key Deductions Found
- Home office (150 sq ft, simplified) — $750
- Business miles (3,200 x $0.70) — $2,240
- Adobe Creative Cloud — $660
- Canva Pro — $156
- QuickBooks — $180
- Website hosting — $192
- New laptop — $1,200
- Office chair — $350
- Online course (UX design) — $299
- Self-employed health insurance — $4,800
- SEP IRA contribution — $5,000
- Total additional deductions found — $15,827
- Estimated tax savings (22% bracket) — $3,482
Quotes to share
Many people miss deductions they were entitled to simply because they never knew to look for them.
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