Tax Deductions for Accounting / Bookkeeping: What Owners Commonly Miss
Last updated: October 17, 2026Written by Shane Atkins, founder of TaxSaver Pro
Accountants and bookkeepers carry licensing, software, and CPE on top of client work, costs that feel routine but are deductible. Without a system, recurring costs go uncaptured. This guide covers the deductions accounting and bookkeeping owners most often overlook.
Commonly missed deductions
01Home office
- What qualifies
- Dedicated space for client work and records.
- What doesn't qualify
- Space also used for personal or family purposes, occasional or incidental work at home, and costs for parts of the home not used for business. W-2 employees working from home generally can't take this deduction on their federal return.
- Records to keep
- Measurements of the office and of the whole home, a photo or floor plan of the space, and, if you use the regular method, rent or mortgage interest statements, utility bills, homeowner's or renter's insurance, and repair receipts.
02Professional dues
- What qualifies
- Licensing, association fees, and insurance.
- What doesn't qualify
- Fees to get your first license or qualify for your profession (initial exams and licensing to enter the field), dues to social, recreational, or athletic clubs, the lobbying or political share of association dues, personal insurance policies, and fines or penalties.
- Records to keep
- License renewal notices, association invoices, statements showing any lobbying portion of dues, insurance declaration pages and premium invoices, and proof of payment.
- IRS source
- IRS Publication 535 — Business Expenses
03Software and subscriptions
- What qualifies
- Accounting, payroll, and tax tools.
- What doesn't qualify
- Personal subscriptions (streaming, personal apps, personal cloud storage) and the personal-use share of anything used for both.
- Records to keep
- Invoices or account statements, and a short note on the business purpose for any subscription where it isn't obvious.
- IRS source
- IRS Publication 535 — Business Expenses
04Professional development
- What qualifies
- CPE courses and certifications.
- What doesn't qualify
- Education that qualifies you for a new trade or business, or that you need to meet the minimum requirements of your current field.
- Records to keep
- Receipts for course fees, materials, and books, plus a short note on how the training relates to your current business.
05Phone and internet
- What qualifies
- Client calls and secure file sharing.
- What doesn't qualify
- The personal-use share of your phone or internet, and the basic charge for the first landline into your home.
- Records to keep
- Monthly bills and a written basis for your business-use percentage, such as a review of a typical month's usage.
- IRS source
- IRS Publication 535 — Business Expenses
Records checklist
A summary of every record mentioned on this page. Keep these with your tax return.
- Home officeMeasurements of the office and of the whole home, a photo or floor plan of the space, and, if you use the regular method, rent or mortgage interest statements, utility bills, homeowner's or renter's insurance, and repair receipts.
- Professional duesLicense renewal notices, association invoices, statements showing any lobbying portion of dues, insurance declaration pages and premium invoices, and proof of payment.
- Software and subscriptionsInvoices or account statements, and a short note on the business purpose for any subscription where it isn't obvious.
- Professional developmentReceipts for course fees, materials, and books, plus a short note on how the training relates to your current business.
- Phone and internetMonthly bills and a written basis for your business-use percentage, such as a review of a typical month's usage.
Related guides
Go deeper on the rules behind these deductions
Educational guidance only, not tax advice. Talk to a tax professional about your situation.