Key takeaways
- Real Estate Agents file as 1099 / self-employed, so business expenses are deductible on Schedule C.
- Deductions cut both income tax and the 15.3% self-employment tax.
- The biggest write-offs for real estate agents are listed below, with what each covers.
- You need receipts and a mileage log to claim them.
Tax write-offs for real estate agents
Here are the deductions real estate agents most commonly claim. Each one lowers your net profit, and therefore your tax:
| Deduction | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Vehicle and mileage | Showings, open houses, and client drives at 70 cents per mile for 2025, or actual costs. This is usually an agent's single largest deduction. |
| Marketing and advertising | Listing photos, signage, mailers, social ads, your website, and branded materials. |
| MLS, board, and license fees | MLS dues, local and national association fees, and your real estate license renewal. |
| Brokerage fees and desk fees | Commission splits, desk fees, and franchise charges paid to your brokerage. |
| Home office | A dedicated workspace where you handle paperwork and calls, by square footage or the simplified method. |
| Phone and internet | The business-use share of your cell phone and home internet. |
| Client gifts and closing gifts | Deductible up to $25 per client per year for gifts. |
| Software and CRM | Your CRM, e-signature tools, lead-gen platforms, and transaction management software. |
| Continuing education | CE courses, designations, and coaching that maintain or improve your skills. |
| Professional services | Legal, accounting, and tax-prep fees for your real estate business. |
| Staging and supplies | Staging costs, lockboxes, signage, and office supplies. |
How these deductions lower your tax
As a real estate agent, your tax is based on net profit, which is your income minus these business expenses. Because both self-employment tax and income tax are calculated on that profit, every dollar you deduct is taxed at neither rate, saving most contractors roughly 25 to 40 cents on the dollar. The catch is documentation: you can only deduct what you can prove, so capturing receipts and miles through the year is what turns this list into real savings.
See what these deductions save you with our free calculators, then let NeoReceipt make sure you capture every one.