Vehicle Expenses

It depends on which mileage method you use — if you use the standard mileage rate, a detailing subscription generally isn't separately deductible, but if you use the actual expense method, it can be, as a vehicle maintenance cost tied to keeping your car passenger-ready. The standard mileage rate is built to cover the average cost of operating a vehicle for business use, including routine upkeep like washes and light detailing. If you've chosen that method for the year, you g

Yes — if you drive an electric or hybrid vehicle for Uber or Lyft and use the actual expense method, EV charging costs are deductible the same way gas would be for a traditional vehicle, though the standard mileage rate changes how this works. If you use the standard mileage rate (a flat amount per business mile), that rate already factors in the average cost of fuel — including electricity — so you can't separately deduct your charging costs on top of it. But if you use the

Yes — inspection tools, testing equipment, and mileage to properties are deductible business expenses for independent home inspectors, and because the job is equipment- and travel-heavy, these two categories often make up the bulk of an inspector's deductions. Moisture meters, thermal cameras, ladders, and other inspection-specific tools are ordinary business costs, so smaller items are typically deducted in full the year purchased. Larger equipment, like a thermal imaging ca

It depends — groceries and ingredients purchased specifically for client meals are deductible, but groceries for your own household never are, even if you're an excellent cook and the line feels blurry. The IRS test is simple in principle: the expense has to exist because of the business, not just alongside it. Ingredients bought for a client's meal prep session, dinner party, or weekly meal service are a direct cost of the job, so they're fully deductible as long as you keep

Real estate agents can deduct mileage for nearly all client-related driving — showings, open houses, inspections, and office trips — but only if the mileage is tracked consistently throughout the year, not estimated after the fact. Mileage is one of the biggest deductions available to real estate agents, and also one of the most commonly mishandled. The IRS offers two ways to calculate it: the standard mileage rate (a set amount per mile driven for business) or actual expense