Can Writers Deduct a Coworking Space Membership Instead of a Home Office?
Yes — a coworking space membership is fully deductible for freelance writers, and in some ways it's simpler to deduct than a home office, since you're paying a direct, itemized cost rather than calculating a percentage of home expenses.
If you work from a coworking space instead of, or in addition to, a home office, your membership fee is deductible as an ordinary business expense, the same as renting any other workspace. Unlike the home office deduction, which requires calculating a business-use percentage of your home or using the simplified square-footage method, a coworking membership is a clean, direct cost — you simply deduct what you paid.
If you use a coworking space some days and a home office on others, both can potentially be deductible for their respective time — a coworking membership fee in full, plus a prorated home office deduction if you also maintain dedicated space at home used regularly for work on the days you're not at the coworking space.
A simple way to think about it:
Coworking membership: Deduct the full membership cost directly, no percentage calculation needed
Home office (used in addition to or instead of coworking): Requires the simplified or regular method to calculate a business-use percentage
Other coworking-related costs commonly deductible:
Day-pass fees for occasional coworking use
Meeting room rental fees within a coworking space
Printing or other add-on services billed by the space
A common mistake: writers assume they have to choose one or the other — a home office or a coworking membership — when both can be deductible simultaneously if you genuinely use each for business during the year.
BossTax's free app tracks membership and workspace costs automatically, whether you work from a coworking space, a home office, or both.
Curious how to handle a mix of coworking and home office use? Schedule a free 15-minute chat with our team — no pressure, just answers. Click here.
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