Can Designers Deduct a Second Monitor Bought Solely for Client Presentations?
Yes — a second monitor purchased specifically to support client presentations or improve your design workflow is a deductible business expense, treated the same as any other piece of computer equipment used primarily for your work.
Whether the second monitor is used to display client mockups during a call, give you more screen space for detailed design work, or run reference material alongside your active project, it's ordinary business equipment as long as it's used primarily for client work. Depending on the cost, it may qualify for Section 179, letting you deduct the full price immediately in the year of purchase, or you can choose to depreciate it over time.
If the second monitor is also used for personal purposes — general browsing, streaming, or non-work activities — only the business-use percentage is technically deductible. Many designers who added a second monitor specifically because of client work can reasonably deduct the full cost, particularly if their primary computer setup is used for business the vast majority of the time.
Other equipment costs commonly deductible for graphic designers:
Drawing tablets and styluses
External storage and backup drives
Color calibration tools for accurate client proofing
Ergonomic accessories purchased for a home office workstation
A common mistake: designers hesitate to deduct a second monitor because it feels like a minor accessory rather than "real" equipment, when it's deducted the same way as a new laptop or any other business hardware purchase.
BossTax's free app tracks hardware purchases automatically, flagging which ones may qualify for an immediate Section 179 write-off.
Curious what other equipment purchases actually qualify? Book a free intro call and we'll walk through it together. Click here.
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