Andrew

Yes — a drone purchased specifically to inspect roofs, chimneys, or other hard-to-reach areas during home inspections is a deductible business expense, treated the same as any other specialized inspection equipment. Drones have become an increasingly common tool for home inspectors, allowing safer and more thorough roof inspections without the need to physically climb onto every structure. Depending on the cost, a drone may qualify for Section 179, letting you deduct the full purchase price...

Yes — a chef's coat or other work-specific uniform is deductible, since it passes the IRS test for work clothing more clearly than most professions' apparel does: it's specialized clothing not suitable for ordinary, everyday wear, even though it might look like "just clothes" at first glance. The IRS generally disallows deductions for clothing that could reasonably be worn outside of work, but a chef's coat is a strong example of clothing that fails that everyday-wear test in the other...

Yes — specialty ingredients purchased specifically to fulfill a client's request, even ones you'd never normally stock or use for your own cooking, are fully deductible business expenses, since the purchase exists entirely because of a specific client booking. If a client requests a dish requiring an unusual spice blend, an imported ingredient, or a specialty item you'd otherwise have no reason to buy, that cost is a direct, deductible expense of fulfilling that job — no different from a...