SnapBooksDownload the worksheet
- Printable deductions worksheetPDF · 2 pages, US Letter
- Deductions worksheet 2026Excel (.xlsx) · adds up each line for you
The Excel version works out your car deduction at the IRS rate ($0.76 a mile in 2026), takes 50% of client meals, and totals each Schedule C line. To use it in Google Sheets, upload the file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets; the formulas and totals carry over. It also opens in Excel, Numbers and LibreOffice.
The deductions on the worksheet
| Expense | Group | Schedule C line |
|---|---|---|
| Business miles × the IRS standard rate ($0.76 a mile in 2026) | Car and travel | Line 9 |
| Parking and tolls for showings, listings and closings | Car and travel | Line 9 |
| Overnight trips: conferences and training out of town (airfare, hotel) | Car and travel | Line 24a |
| Listing photos, video, floor plans and drone footage | Marketing and advertising | Line 8 |
| Yard signs, riders and open house signs | Marketing and advertising | Line 8 |
| Online and social media ads, lead-generation services | Marketing and advertising | Line 8 |
| Website, domain and hosting | Marketing and advertising | Line 8 |
| Postcards, flyers, mailers and printing | Marketing and advertising | Line 8 |
| Staging you pay for to market a listing | Marketing and advertising | Line 8 |
| Business cards and branded promotional items | Marketing and advertising | Line 8 |
| State license renewal and license fees | Licenses, dues and education | Line 23 |
| MLS dues | Licenses, dues and education | Line 27b |
| Board and association dues (minus the lobbying share they report) | Licenses, dues and education | Line 27b |
| Continuing education, courses and coaching | Licenses, dues and education | Line 27b |
| Desk, franchise and transaction fees billed by your brokerage | Brokerage and professional fees | Line 10 |
| Referral fees you pay other agents | Brokerage and professional fees | Line 10 |
| E&O and business liability insurance | Brokerage and professional fees | Line 15 |
| Transaction coordinator or assistant paid as a contractor | Brokerage and professional fees | Line 11 |
| Accountant, tax preparer and attorney | Brokerage and professional fees | Line 17 |
| CRM, e-signature, showing and transaction software | Office, phone and technology | Line 18 |
| Office supplies, postage and printing | Office, phone and technology | Line 18 |
| Cell phone and internet (business share only) | Office, phone and technology | Line 25 |
| Computer, tablet or camera (may need to be depreciated) | Office, phone and technology | Line 13 |
| Office or desk rent you pay yourself | Office, phone and technology | Line 20b |
| Home office used regularly and only for business (simplified: $5 per sq ft, up to 300 sq ft) | Office, phone and technology | Line 30 |
| Meals with clients or prospects (generally 50% deductible) | Clients | Line 24b |
| Client and closing gifts (up to $25 per person per year) | Clients | Line 27b |
| Lockbox, key and showing service fees | Clients | Line 27b |
Rules agents should know
- Mileage: driving to showings, listings, closings and client meetings counts. Driving from home to your regular brokerage office is commuting. Keep a mileage log as you go.
- Meals: generally 50% deductible when you discuss business with a client or prospect. Entertainment, such as games, golf or concerts, isn’t deductible.
- Gifts: closing gifts are deductible up to $25 per person a year. Incidental costs such as engraving, packaging and shipping don’t count toward the $25.
- Association dues: deduct them minus the share your association reports as lobbying.
- Home office: only for space used regularly and only for business. The simplified method allows $5 per square foot, up to 300 square feet.
- Mixed-use costs, such as your phone and internet: only the business share.
Usually not deductible
- Driving from home to your regular office (commuting)
- Entertainment, such as games, golf or concerts (not deductible since 2018)
- Clothing you could wear outside work
- The personal share of your car, phone or internet
- Political contributions, and the lobbying share of association dues
- Fines and penalties, including parking tickets
Where an item is reported can vary, and so can your situation. Confirm with a tax professional.
Keep the records that back it up
Every number on the worksheet needs proof: receipts, invoices, statements, and a mileage log kept as you drive. SnapBooks for agents snaps receipts in seconds and logs drives with GPS, so your totals are ready at the end of the year.
Frequently asked questions
Are real estate agents self-employed for taxes?
Most are. Licensed agents paid by commission under a written contract are generally treated as independent contractors (the IRS calls them statutory nonemployees), so they report income and expenses on Schedule C and pay self-employment tax.
Can I deduct my car payments?
Not the payment itself. You deduct either the standard mileage rate for your business miles, or the business share of actual costs such as fuel, insurance, repairs, depreciation or lease payments, and car loan interest.
Are staging costs deductible?
Staging you pay for to market a listing is generally a business expense, usually treated as advertising.
Is the worksheet free?
Yes. Download the PDF or Excel version without an email address or an account.