deductions

Описание: Save money on your startup taxes. Here are 7 IRS-approved deductions every founder should know, from software to R&D and home office expenses.

7 Tax Deductions You Shouldn’t Miss as a Startup Founder

🚀 Startups bleed cash. Don’t bleed more by overpaying taxes.

When you’re just starting out, every dollar counts.
The IRS isn’t exactly going to tell you,

“Hey, by the way, you could have deducted that.”

So here’s the stuff founders forget all the time, the deductions you should absolutely take.

✅ 1. Startup Costs (Up to $5,000)

Those early expenses before you officially launched?

Incorporation fees
Legal consultations
Market research
That first website mockup

The IRS lets you deduct up to $5,000 of these in year one.
Use it, it’s free runway.

✅ 2. Software & AI Tools

Your startup probably runs on:
Slack, Notion, Figma, AWS, Stripe fees, GitHub, OpenAI credits.

The good news? They’re all deductible.
Even that ChatGPT Pro subscription you use at 2 a.m.

✅ 3. Freelancers & Contractors

Hired a dev, designer, or VA?
Paid them over $600?

You can deduct the cost
Just don’t forget to send them a 1099-NEC

Related: How to File 1099s for Startups

✅ 4. R&D Expenses (and the R&D Credit)

Building an MVP? Testing code?
Experimenting with algorithms?
You may qualify for the R&D Tax Credit, which can cut payroll taxes by thousands, even if you’re not profitable yet.

Full breakdown: R&D Tax Credit for Startups

✅ 5. Home Office Expenses

Yes, your kitchen table might count.
You can deduct a portion of:

Rent or mortgage interest
Utilities
Internet
Office furniture

Just make sure it’s a dedicated workspace.

✅ 6. Travel & Founder Meals

Investor coffee? Pitch trip to NYC?
The IRS lets you deduct:

Travel to business-related events
Hotels, transport, and 50% of business meals

Save the receipts (and maybe a note of who you met with).

✅ 7. Equipment & Gear

That laptop you bought in panic?
The monitor you use for dev work?
Even that camera you’re using for marketing content?
They’re deductible, either all at once (Section 179) or spread out.

💡 Why These Deductions Matter

Every dollar you deduct:

Lowers your taxable income
Lowers your IRS bill
Extends your runway

And if you’re pre-revenue?
You’re still setting up the tax losses you’ll carry forward.

🔗 Other Things Founders Miss

83(b) Elections (not a deduction, but a huge tax saver later)
Form 5472 for Foreign Founders (avoid $25K penalties)
Delaware Franchise Tax (pay it by March 1)

✅ TL;DR: Keep Receipts, Deduct Everything That’s Legit

💼 Category	🧮 Deductible?
Startup Costs	Yes, up to $5,000 in year 1
Software Tools	100%
Freelancers	Yes, file 1099-NEC
R&D Expenses	Yes + credit
Home Office	Yes, if dedicated space
Travel & Meals	Yes, 50% of meals
Equipment	Yes, Section 179 or depreciate

🏁 Final Word for Founders

Don’t leave money on the table because you didn’t know the rules.
The IRS has a playbook and you’re allowed to use it.