What Can Real Estate Agents Deduct Besides Mileage?
Updated: Aug 26
Beyond mileage, real estate agents can deduct a wide range of costs tied to running their business, including marketing, MLS and association fees, licensing, and even a portion of their home if they maintain a dedicated office.
Marketing is often one of the largest categories for agents — professional photography for listings, staging costs, yard signs, postcards, and paid social or search ads are all ordinary business expenses. MLS dues, brokerage desk fees, and association memberships (like your local Realtor association) are deductible as well, since they're required to operate as an agent in most markets.
If you maintain a home office used regularly and exclusively for business — reviewing contracts, prospecting, or handling paperwork — that portion of your home may qualify for the home office deduction, using either the simplified method ($5 per square foot, up to 300 square feet) or the regular method based on actual home expenses.
Other commonly deductible real estate agent expenses:
MLS dues, association fees, and brokerage desk fees
Professional photography, staging, and listing marketing
Continuing education and license renewal costs
Client gifts (subject to IRS limits on gift deductions)
Errors & omissions insurance
A common mistake: agents forget to deduct recurring, smaller costs like MLS fees or association dues because they're paid automatically, when across a full year these add up to a meaningful deduction.
BossTax's free app tracks recurring dues, marketing spend, and listing costs automatically, so nothing gets lost between showings.
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Related articles:
How Do Real Estate Agents Track Mileage for Taxes?
Home Office Deductions for Real Estate Agents, Explained
Do Real Estate Agents Need to Pay Quarterly Taxes?
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