Allowable expenses checklist for freelancers
Knowing what you can claim is one of the fastest ways to improve your tax accuracy and avoid overpaying.
Freelancers often miss legitimate expenses because records are spread across personal and business spending. Build a simple monthly checklist and review each category at least once per quarter.
Typical categories include software, business travel, office costs, professional fees, and business-use share of phone or internet. Keep invoices and payment evidence so your records are defensible.
Avoid guessing mixed-use costs. If an item is partly personal and partly business, use a reasonable split and note how you calculated it.
Key points
- Use a consistent set of categories year-round.
- Keep receipts in one digital folder by month.
- Do not include personal costs as business expenses.