Deducting license fees?

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 1, 2019
1 reply
56 views

I'm a fitness instructor, I have to pay for monthly license fees, test fees to maintain licensing (and I got a new one this year). I am doing the self employed option. I work at a gym, but pay all this on my own. Question is...can I deduct these monthly fees (to keep my license current and active so I can teach) and can I deduct my recent class that I had to take to get licensed for a new specialty. If so..where do I list these? I thought maybe under the legal/professional, but I am not sure. It comes to almost $500 that would make a huge difference in deductions!

TurboTax Self Employed Online

Best answer by MargaretL

Yes, you can deduct license fees for improving/maintaining/renewing your trade. You can deduct the class fee since the class is for the same trade.

You can enter the fees for license under Professional, the class fee can be entered under Other Expenses... where you put your own description and an amount.

Notes:

To be deductible, your expenses must be for education that either maintains or improves your job skills, or is required by your employer or by law to keep your salary, status or job. Expenses to learn a new trade or job aren't deductible.
As self employed- they are your business expenses; as an employee, they are your Job-related expenses in TurboTax.

MargaretLAnswer

Level 12

Yes, you can deduct license fees for improving/maintaining/renewing your trade. You can deduct the class fee since the class is for the same trade.

You can enter the fees for license under Professional, the class fee can be entered under Other Expenses... where you put your own description and an amount.

Notes:

To be deductible, your expenses must be for education that either maintains or improves your job skills, or is required by your employer or by law to keep your salary, status or job. Expenses to learn a new trade or job aren't deductible.
As self employed- they are your business expenses; as an employee, they are your Job-related expenses in TurboTax.