Bookkeeping guide
Pet sitter tax bookkeeping: categories to review
Dog walking, pet sitting, boarding, drop-ins. If you got a 1099 for this work, here are common categories and review questions; your facts and records determine what qualifies.
Worth knowing
These are common expenses people in this line of work may need to review. Anything marked in orange is an edge case worth raising with a preparer rather than assuming.
Platform fees — the big one
Rover, Wag, and similar platforms may withhold service fees. Record the actual business fee shown on the payout statement instead of estimating a typical percentage; PrivateBooks maps it to commissions and fees for Schedule C review.
actual fee from statement
Mileage between clients
Travel between client visits may be business mileage. Travel from home can be commuting depending on your tax home and regular work location. Keep a timely date, destination, purpose, and mileage log.
$0.70 / mile 2025 rate
Insurance & bonding
Liability insurance covers you if an animal in your care gets hurt; 'bonding' is a similar protection clients sometimes ask for — if you pay for either for the business, the actual premium may generally be an ordinary and necessary Schedule C expense. Separate any personal or nonbusiness coverage.
actual premium business use only
Gear & certifications
The business-use cost of GPS trackers, pet first-aid kits, safety gear, and platform background checks may generally qualify when ordinary and necessary. Training should maintain or improve skills for the work you already do; confirm edge cases with your preparer.
keep receipts tracked
Your pets vs. client supplies
Treats, leashes, and waste bags bought for client pets are generally Schedule C supplies when ordinary and necessary. Your own pets' costs are personal — keep them separate when you shop.
keep separate audit-safe
Common categories PrivateBooks suggests
Pick Pet sitter during guided setup and your books start with these categories mapped to Schedule C lines for review — no chart of accounts to invent. The mapping does not establish eligibility, business-use share, or substantiation:
| Category | Schedule C line |
|---|---|
| Platform fees (Rover, Wag) | Line 10 — Commissions and fees |
| Pet supplies & treats | Line 22 — Supplies |
| Mileage between clients | Line 9 — Car and truck expenses |
| Insurance & bonding | Line 15 — Insurance (other than health) |
| Licenses & permits | Line 23 — Taxes and licenses |
| Phone bill (work %) | Line 27b — Other (phone & internet) |
| Gear & first-aid supplies | Line 22 — Supplies |
| Certifications & courses | Line 27b — Other (education & training) |
| Advertising & profile boosts | Line 8 — Advertising |
Merchants it recognises automatically
On top of the 584 built-in sorting rules, this pack adds rules for Fetch Pet, Pet Sitters Int, Petcareins, Rover *, Rover.Com, Wag Walking, Wag!. A matching description gets a suggested bookkeeping category; anything uncertain goes to Review instead of being guessed at. Spot-check every suggestion: a merchant match is not proof of business use, eligibility, allocation, or substantiation.
Do you even have to file?
Net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more generally require Schedule SE, but other filing rules can apply below $400. Whether you received a 1099, also have W-2 wages, had withholding, or need estimated payments depends on the full return. Review the official Schedule SE instructions or ask a qualified preparer instead of treating this bookkeeping guide as a filing decision.
See an optional cash-reserve illustration →
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.