The Small Business Tax Deductions Checklist: 25+ Write-Offs Owners Miss

Workspace & Operations

The everyday infrastructure of your business is deductible:

• Home office — regular and exclusive use; actual-expense method usually beats the $5/sq-ft simplified rate
• Rent, utilities, business insurance, software subscriptions, and merchant fees
• Phone and internet — the documented business-use percentage
• Office supplies, equipment, and furniture (Section 179 or bonus for larger buys)
• Repairs and maintenance — deduct now vs. capitalize; the de minimis safe harbor covers items under $2,500 per invoice

Vehicles & Travel

Vehicle deductions reward mileage logs. Choose standard mileage (72.5¢/mile for 2026) or actual expenses with business-use percentage — heavier SUVs and trucks (over 6,000 lbs GVWR) unlock accelerated depreciation under Section 179/bonus when business use exceeds 50%.

• Business mileage between work locations (commuting from home is not deductible — but home-office-to-client is)
• Airfare, lodging, and 50% of meals for overnight business travel
• Conferences, masterminds, and industry events with a business purpose

People: Family Payroll & Benefits

Some of the strongest strategies hide in how you pay people — including your family:

• Hire your children — legitimate work at market wages shifts income into their 0% bracket; under-18s employed by a parent's sole prop/partnership are FICA-exempt
• Augusta Rule (§280A(g)) — rent your home to your business for meetings up to 14 days/year: deductible to the business, tax-free to you
• Self-employed health insurance premiums — above-the-line deduction
• HSA contributions — the only triple-tax-advantaged account in the code
• Accountable plans — S corp owners reimburse themselves tax-free for home office and mileage

Retirement: The Biggest Voluntary Deduction

Retirement plans convert tax into wealth. A Solo 401(k) allows up to $24,500 in employee deferrals in 2026 plus an employer contribution based on compensation — with total regular contributions capped at $72,000 before eligible catch-up contributions. SEP IRAs offer simplicity; defined benefit plans let high-earning older owners deduct $100,000+ annually. Plan choice interacts with your entity structure, so coordinate the two.

The 20% QBI Deduction

Section 199A gives most pass-through owners a deduction equal to 20% of qualified business income — effectively taxing $100K of profit like $80K. Above 2026 taxable-income thresholds ($201,750 for most non-joint filers / $403,500 married filing jointly), specified service businesses phase out and W-2/UBIA limits apply — precisely where salary design and retirement contributions become planning tools to preserve the deduction.

This interplay is a core part of our tax planning engagements — the QBI deduction is too valuable to leave to software defaults.