This free checklist covers every deduction category content creators and influencers commonly qualify for, so nothing gets missed when tax season rolls around.
Our deduction checklist exists because not every expense a creator makes is automatically deductible, and the rules trip up even experienced creators. Here’s what usually gets missed:
The IRS standard is that an expense has to be “ordinary and necessary” for your business — not just something that felt work-related at the time.
You have to use part of your home regularly and exclusively for business — a desk in the corner of your bedroom you also relax in doesn’t qualify.
Standard mileage or actual expenses, the two methods give very different results, and which one wins depends on your vehicle and how your business is structured.
10 Categories of Deductions Creators Commonly Miss
Cameras, lenses, lighting kits, microphones, and the computer you edit on are deductible if they’re used for your content business, even part-time.
A dedicated space used regularly and only for filming or editing lets you deduct a portion of rent or mortgage interest, utilities, and internet, using the simplified or actual-expense method.
Props, backdrops, and outfits worn only on camera are deductible, but everyday clothing you’d wear anyway doesn’t qualify, even if it shows up in a video.
Editing software, design tools, scheduling and analytics apps, and cloud storage are some of the most commonly missed write-offs for creators.
Business travel to shoots or events, platform and payment processing fees, and payments to your editor, manager, or bookkeeper all belong on this list too.
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Write off the full cost of qualifying gear the year you buy it, up to the current annual limit, instead of spreading it out.
Spread the cost of bigger purchases over the equipment’s useful life instead of taking it all in one year.
For gear you also use personally, only the percentage of actual business use is deductible — not the full cost.
The simplified home-office method lets you deduct $5 for every square foot of dedicated office space.
The simplified method caps out at 300 square feet — a maximum $1,500 deduction per year.
That's roughly how much equipment you can immediately expense under Section 179 in a given year (the limit is adjusted for inflation annually).
Business meals while traveling for work are generally only 50% deductible, not 100%.
I’m just like the creators I work with —
I understand the mix of freedom and chaos that comes with a global lifestyle. My goal is to make bookkeeping and taxes simple, clear, and stress-free so you can focus on what you do best.
– Cameron Botes, Founder & Tax Advisor
See why creators trust BizBud to find every deduction they’re actually owed
Don’t lose your hard-earned cash to missed deductions or tax penalties. Schedule a call with the BizBud team to see how we can help lower your next tax bill.
Straight answers about the deduction checklist and what's inside it.
Content creators, streamers, and influencers who earn income from platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, or Twitch and file as a sole proprietor, single-member LLC, or S-corp. The categories cover the expenses creators run into most, regardless of platform or niche.
Most generic lists are written for businesses in general. This one is built specifically around what creators actually spend money on: gear, studio space, wardrobe, software, and platform fees, so you're not guessing which categories apply to you.
Yes. The IRS requires you to be able to show what an expense was and why it was for your business. A bank or card statement alone usually isn't enough if you're ever asked to substantiate a deduction.
You can only deduct the business-use portion. A laptop used 60% of the time for editing and 40% for personal use, for example, is only 60% deductible. The checklist walks you through how to apportion the categories where this comes up most.
Yes. Plenty of creators use it as a gut-check before sending expenses to their bookkeeper, or to make sure nothing gets left off their own list of write-offs during the year.
That's exactly what a quick call with our team is for. We'll look at your specific situation and tell you what actually applies to you, not just the general rules.
