As a small business owner, maximizing your tax write-offs can reduce your taxable income and free up more cash for growth. While standard tax deductions like office supplies and utilities are well known, several lesser-known write-offs could save you even more money. Here are ten you might not be aware of:
The Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) lets you write off the depreciation of business assets like buildings, furniture, equipment, and vehicles over time. Instead of deducting the entire amount in one year, you can spread it over multiple years to lower your annual taxable income.
If you pay for business expenses in advance—insurance, advertising contracts, or rent—you can write them off in the year they apply rather than when you paid for them. Tracking prepaid expenses ensures you maximize your tax deductions at the right time.
If a client fails to pay for goods or services, you don’t have to take the loss completely. Unpaid invoices included in your income but no longer collectible can be written off as a tax deduction to help balance your books.
Attending industry conventions? You can write off up to two business-related conventions per year, including registration fees, travel, accommodations, and meals (with food and beverages limited to 50%). Attending conventions is a great way to lower taxable income while networking and growing your business.
Any interest on loans used for business purposes, as well as fees for business credit cards, lines of credit, or loan repayments, can be included in your tax write-offs. Specific bank service fees related to your business account may also be eligible as write-offs.
Keeping your business property in good shape is essential, and routine maintenance and repairs are fully deductible. However, significant renovations that increase the value of your property don’t qualify as an immediate write-off, so keep track of these expenses carefully.
Hiring external help for management or administrative services? Whether it’s a business consultant, virtual assistant, or bookkeeping service, you can claim these costs as a tax write-off.
If you’ve purchased intangible business assets like goodwill, trademarks, or patents, you can claim an annual allowance to reduce your taxable income over time. This is a great way to get long-term tax deductions on high-value business assets.
If your business requires fuel for machinery or equipment (excluding regular motor vehicles), these expenses qualify as tax write-offs. These write-offs can be especially relevant for construction, agriculture, and manufacturing industries.
If your business relies on consumable supplies, those costs are deductible. Examples of these supplies include cleaning products for janitorial services, dental supplies for clinics, or construction materials for contractors. If the item is used up in your business operations, it qualifies for a write-off.
Tracking tax write-offs and staying compliant with the Canada Revenue Agency can be overwhelming—but you don’t have to do it alone. At Numble Accounting, we help small business owners maximize their tax deductions, ensuring they only pay what they owe and nothing more.
Get in touch today, and let’s make tax season stress-free!
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