Have you filed your taxes yet?!
If not, only fate can tell whether you’ll be happy or not once you finish—specifically, whether you will owe money or receive a refund. There’s something I’d love to share with you…something that can perhaps help you land on the “happy” side of the fence after filing!
Do you remember that scene in Schitt’s Creek when David (Dan Levy) gets a job, happily brings home some homeware, and calls it a “write-off”? Johnny (Eugene Levy) inquisitively asks if David actually understands what a “write-off” means. In David’s beautiful definition, “It’s when you buy something for your business and the government pays you back for it.” According to him, nobody pays for it because the “write-off people” just write it off.
Honestly, David isn’t completely wrong, but let’s look at a more informed definition to avoid technical issues with the ‘write-off people’—better known as the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). A tax write-off, or deduction, as defined by Tangerine, is when ‘certain expenses and amounts can be subtracted from your total income (including employment, self-employment, and investments) to determine your net income’.
Simply put, you can write off certain business expenses, but they must be on the list provided by the CRA to qualify. These include, but are not limited to, business expenses (computer software, telecommunications, training/certifications, conventions, etc.), rent, or travel expenses. However, these expenses must be directly related to how you fulfill your business goals to be eligible.
What can you deduct as a self-employed individual?
Tech/Business Consultants If you work as a technology consultant—such as a software engineer, data scientist, digital marketer, or accountant—then several business-related expenses are eligible for write-offs. These include computer accessories, software subscriptions, or ergonomic equipment for your workstation, such as a lumbar support cushion or a memory foam wrist rest. These items help you perform better and allow you to complete your projects with ease.
Construction and Trade Workers If you are self-employed as a carpenter, plumber, electrician, or crane operator, there are several eligible business expenses you can claim. These include tools and equipment costing under $500 (hard hats, hammers, small drills, etc.) and materials and supplies (lumber, electrical and plumbing components, and other consumables related to the job).
Ride-share/Delivery Drivers If you drive for Uber (or similar services) full-time or part-time, your deductions will be focused on transportation-related expenses. These include gas, maintenance, and parking, as well as bookkeeping and accounting service fees.
In general, business expenses such as rent, phone bills, and internet are eligible for tax write-offs. However, these require specific calculations to determine the portion used for business purposes. This is especially true for housing: if you use your own home or apartment for business operations, only your workspace is considered an expense. This must be prorated based on the area of the workspace relative to the total finished area of the home.
As a side note on home office eligibility, your home office must be your principal place of business, or it must be used exclusively for earning business income and used on a regular and continuous basis for meeting clients or customers.
If you need to know more, you can visit the CRA’s official website to be guided through the process of filing your income tax as a self-employed individual. Take note of the following dates so you know when to comply to qualify for benefits, deductions, and refunds: This year, June 15, 2026, is the filing deadline for self-employed individuals, while April 30, 2026, is the deadline for personal tax filing. Notably, April 30, 2026, is also the deadline to pay any taxes owed for your 2025 income.
