Deduction guide
Handyman taxes: what you can actually deduct
Repairs, maintenance, odd jobs, small renos. If you got a 1099 for this work, here's what counts — and what PrivateBooks sets up for you automatically.
Worth knowing
These are the write-offs people in this line of work most often miss — or claim wrongly. Anything marked in orange is an edge case worth raising with a preparer rather than assuming.
Tools — deduct now or over time?
Smaller tools and consumables are usually deductible supplies right away. Big-ticket equipment may need to be spread over years or taken under Section 179 — a good question for tax time.
at tax time big items
Materials vs. your markup
Parts you buy for a job are job costs — even when you bill the client back. Keep them separate from tools so your profit per job stays honest.
per job tracked
Mileage between jobs
Driving to job sites with your tools is business mileage. PrivateBooks logs it at the IRS standard rate for the tax year.
$0.70 / mile 2025 rate
Liability insurance
Working in people's homes makes liability coverage essential — and the premium is a deductible insurance expense.
fully deductible business policy
What PrivateBooks pre-loads
Pick Handyman during guided setup and your books start with these categories, each already mapped to its real Schedule C line — no chart of accounts to invent:
| Category | Schedule C line |
|---|---|
| Job materials & parts | Line 38 — Materials and supplies |
| Tools & equipment | Line 22 — Supplies |
| Mileage between jobs | Line 9 — Car and truck expenses |
| Platform & lead fees (TaskRabbit, Angi) | Line 10 — Commissions and fees |
| Business liability insurance | Line 15 — Insurance (other than health) |
| Work boots & safety gear | Line 22 — Supplies |
| Tool repairs & sharpening | Line 21 — Repairs and maintenance |
| Equipment rental (sander, trencher) | Line 20a — Rent/lease (vehicles, equipment) |
| Trailer & towing costs | Line 9 — Car and truck expenses |
| Dump & disposal fees | Line 38 — Materials and supplies |
| Phone bill (work %) | Line 27b — Other (phone & internet) |
| Licenses & permits | Line 23 — Taxes and licenses |
Merchants it recognises automatically
On top of the 578 built-in sorting rules, this pack adds rules for Angi , Harbor Freight, Homeadvisor, Menards, Taskrabbit — so those transactions land in the right category the moment you import a statement. Anything it isn't sure about goes to Review instead of being guessed at.
Do you even have to file?
If you netted $400 or more from self-employment in a year, you generally have to file and pay self-employment tax — even if nobody sent you a 1099, and even if you also have a W-2 job. Nothing was withheld from this income, which is why setting money aside matters.
Educational pointers, not tax advice. Tax rules change and your situation is specific — worth asking about at tax time. The free IRS-sponsored VITA program helps people under its income threshold at no cost.