6 Tax Write-Offs That Are Completely Legal—And Could Save You Money

It’s tax season, which means it’s time to get your financial house in order. Stressful as it may be for many, now is the time to strategize and deploy the tools you can to maximize your potential tax return and minimize your tax burden. Write-offs are a great way to achieve this.

Also known as tax deductions, write-offs work by lowering your taxable income and, thus, your taxes owed. (These are not the same thing as tax credits, which directly reduce your taxes owed or tax bill.) There are several expenses that count towards write-offs, and if you’ve already been doing this for years, prepare for some changes (like no more federal EV tax credits for clean cars bought after Sept. 30, 2025) this year under Trump’s updated tax bill. 

“Whether you got married last year or purchased your first home, major life changes can bring about many questions and uncertainties,” Lisa Greene-Lewis, CPA and tax expert, wrote on TurboTax’s blog. “Although you may have questions about how life events affect your finances, one thing is certain: life-changing events can save you money on your taxes.”

For 2025 taxes, taxpayers can claim standard deductions of $15,750 if single and $31,500 if married and filing jointly. Write-offs can be in addition to this, reducing taxable income, which count as above-the-line. If write-offs are itemized deductions, they replace the standard deduction.

Read on for some simple tax write-offs to not miss in 2026, as you file your 2025 taxes. These apply to individuals, business, and self-employed folks alike.

K-12 Educators Can Deduct Classroom Purchases

Teachers who use their own money and spend out-of-pocket for qualified K-12 items used in the classroom. If single, educators can claim up to $300 in a tax deduction. If married to another qualifying educator and filing under married filing jointly status, the deduction doubles to a maximum of $600.

Some Wedding-Related Items Are Deductible 

Weddings are notoriously expensive, and though they’re not explicitly deductible, there are some related items you can write off. If paying a church for a ceremony fee, that itself is not deductible, but any amount donated more than the fee is deductible. After all the celebrations, wedding flowers donated to a non-profit, like a shelter or women’s center, may be eligible for a tax deduction for the fair market value of florals donated. Donating a wedding gown to a non-profit, similarly, can count.  

Self-Employed and Side Hustle Expenses

In a time when side hustles and freelancing is more common, it’s important to know all about deducting self-employment expenses. These can span everything from business travel to office supplies, qualified health insurance, marketing expenses, and more. Even rent for a dedicated workspace may count towards a deductible if self-employed. 

Qualified Moving Expenses

While moving expenses are not generally deductible, they are to certain active-duty military. Members who are moving under order for a permanent change of station can deduct expenses from their tax bill. Unreimbursed moving costs to deduct, however, do not include things like meals paid for while moving.

Property Taxes Can Be Write-Offs

Both real estate and certain personal property taxes can be deductible, but only if you itemize, which means they replace the standard deduction. To deduct real estate taxes, you must own the property and have paid the taxes during the tax year. These deductions fall under the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, which allows taxpayers filing single or married filing jointly to deduct up to $40,000 in combined state and local taxes, and up to $20,000 if married filing separately. The maximum deduction may be reduced for some higher-income taxpayers due to income phase-outs.

How HSA Contributions Can Save Money

As healthcare costs rise, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) may play an increasingly important role. What’s even better? After-tax contributions to these accounts are tax deductible. Plus, if you invest the money deposited, it grows without penalty. HSA funds must, notably, be used towards qualified health and medical expenses. 

This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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