Self-Employed Tax Deductions That Get Questioned — and How to Claim Them Safely
Most deduction guides tell you what you can write off. This one covers what tends to get disallowed — and the simple records that keep it on your return. Total your legitimate write-offs with the self-employed write-offs calculator.
1. Claiming 100% business use of your only car
If you have one vehicle, a 100% business-use claim rarely holds up, because you almost certainly drive it to the grocery store. Keep a mileage log with dates, purpose and miles. For 2026, use 72.5¢ per mile for January–June and 76¢ for July–December.
2. Commuting miles
Driving from home to a regular single workplace is commuting and isn't deductible. Driving between client sites, or from a qualifying home office to a job, generally is. Gig drivers can usually count miles while working an app, but not the drive home after their last order unless they have a home office base.
3. Meals with no business purpose
Business meals are 50% deductible only when you meet a client or travel overnight for work. Eating lunch alone between deliveries is a personal expense. Write who you met and why on the receipt.
4. A home office that's also the guest room
The space must be used regularly and exclusively for business. A corner of the living room can qualify if it's only a workspace; a dining table used for dinner does not. The simplified method is $5 per square foot up to 300 square feet ($1,500).
5. Phone and internet at 100%
Claim the realistic business share, such as 60%, and keep a month of usage notes to back it up. Round numbers like 100% invite questions.
6. Hobby losses
A side activity that loses money year after year without a real profit motive can be treated as a hobby, and hobby expenses aren't deductible. Keep a business plan, separate bank account and records showing you're trying to profit.
The records that save you
Use a separate business account, save receipts (digital photos are fine), keep a contemporaneous mileage log and note the business purpose on anything that could look personal. Keep records for at least three years after filing.
Frequently asked questions
+Will big deductions trigger an audit?
Large deductions alone don't cause an audit, but deductions that look out of proportion to your income, like a $20,000 vehicle claim on $25,000 of revenue, draw more attention.
+Can I deduct clothing for work?
Only if it's required for the job and not suitable for everyday wear, like branded uniforms or safety gear.
+Are bank statements enough proof?
They prove you paid, but not what for. Pair them with receipts or notes showing the business purpose.
Ask about this article
Answers are grounded in “Self-Employed Tax Deductions That Get Questioned — and How to Claim Them Safely”. Educational info, not tax advice.
About the author
Javed Niamat · Founder & Editor, GigTax
Javed Niamat founded GigTax to make self-employment tax math understandable for rideshare drivers, delivery couriers, creators and freelancers. He builds and maintains every calculator on this site and writes the guides that explain the numbers behind them.
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