What Is Deductible?

How this site works

Each page answers one specific question — like “Is home internet tax deductible?” — and explains who it applies to, when it’s deductible, and when it’s not.

This is a reference site, not tax advice. Rules can vary by situation, so pages are written in a practical yes/no/depends format.

Start here (60-second guide)

If you’re trying to figure out whether something is tax deductible, the fastest way is to treat it like a checklist. This site is organized as simple yes/no/depends lookups so you can quickly narrow down what applies to your situation.

1. Pick the closest topic (like mileage, meals, home office, software).
2. Read the short answer (yes/no/depends) to set expectations.
3. Check “When it’s deductible” vs “When it’s not” to find the rule that matches your scenario.
4. Look for allocation notes if the expense is mixed-use (business + personal).
5. Save the recordkeeping checklist so you can back up the claim later.

Tip: If your question is brand-specific or scenario-specific, check the “Specific lookups” section on the parent page for deeper answers.

What usually changes the answer

Many expenses are not a simple “yes” or “no” because the tax treatment often depends on how you use the item and whether you can support the business purpose. Across most categories on this site, these are the factors that make an expense deductible (or risky):

• Business purpose: What income-generating activity does the expense support?
• Mixed personal use: If you use it personally too, you usually claim only the business-use portion.
• Allocation method: Common methods include square footage (home office), time-use, or percentage usage.
• Reimbursements: If you were reimbursed, you typically can’t deduct the same cost again.
• Reasonableness: Expenses that look excessive for the context can be harder to justify.
• Documentation: Receipts, notes, and logs matter as much as the category itself.

Recordkeeping checklist (save this)

If you claim deductions, the simplest way to reduce stress later is to keep the same set of records for each expense. Most of our lookup pages end with a “Records” section — here’s the short version you can reuse:

• Receipt or invoice showing what you bought and when.
• Proof of payment (card statement, bank record, payment confirmation).
• Business-purpose note (one sentence: who/what project/why it was needed).
• Allocation note if mixed-use (your method + percentage).
• Logs when relevant (mileage log, travel details, attendee notes for meals).

This site focuses on clarity and practical examples. If your situation is unusual or high-dollar, consider getting professional advice.