Free · Online tutors

Can I deduct this?

Swipe through 22 real expenses every online tutor and private instructor runs into — Zoom Pro, iPad, lesson materials, mileage, platform fees. Find out which the IRS lets you write off.

Tax deduction swipe
22 expenses. Personal or deductible?

For each card: would the IRS let an online tutor write this off? Tap the buttons (or swipe the card) to guess. We'll show you the answer + explanation after each one.

  1. Swipe right or tap Deductible if you think a tutor can claim it.
  2. Swipe left or tap Personal if it's a personal expense.
  3. At the end, you'll see all 22 with the IRS-aligned verdict + reasoning.
Estimate only — not tax advice

Verdicts are based on IRS Pub 535 (Business Expenses) and Pub 463 (Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses). Real-world deductibility depends on your usage, documentation, and method (standard mileage vs actual expenses). Verify with a licensed tax pro before claiming anything on a return.

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Nice work. Here's the IRS-aligned breakdown for all 22 expenses.

Important — verify before claiming

These verdicts reflect typical IRS treatment under Pub 535 and Pub 463. Your specific situation (business-use %, recordkeeping, mileage vs actual-expense method) can change the answer. Always confirm with a licensed tax pro before deducting anything on your return.

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How online tutor deductions actually work

If you tutor through VIPKid, Outschool, Preply, Wyzant, Varsity Tutors, or with your own private students, you're an independent contractor in nearly every case. You file Schedule C, pay self-employment tax on net profit, and can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses against your tutoring income.

The IRS test for any deduction is whether it's ordinary and necessary for your trade. For a tutor, that usually means: things directly tied to teaching (Zoom Pro, lesson materials, your tutoring iPad, platform fees, mileage to in-person sessions, liability insurance, CEU courses) are deductible. Personal lifestyle expenses (your own coffee, lunch, a gym membership) usually aren't.

Tutors vs W-2 teachers on deductions

Important distinction: K-12 W-2 teachers can only claim the $300 Educator Expense Deduction on Schedule 1 — most classroom spending is otherwise lost since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated unreimbursed-employee deductions through 2025. Self-employed tutors are different. You deduct everything ordinary and necessary on Schedule C — no $300 cap, no employment classification limits.

If you teach from home, you may also qualify for the home office deduction — but only if a specific room (or a clearly identifiable part of one) is used regularly and exclusively for tutoring. A corner of your kitchen doesn't count if anyone else uses that table. Document it with a floor plan and a list of business uses.

What this tool isn't

This is an educational swipe — not tax advice. Real deductibility depends on how you actually use the item, what records you keep, and your business-use percentage. Many tools and devices need to be prorated. Verdicts are based on IRS Pub 535 (Business Expenses) and Pub 587 (Home Office) as of 2026. Verify with a licensed tax pro before claiming anything on your return.