It is possible to deduct your subscriptions to music streaming services such as Spotify, Soundcloud, AppleMusic and others, on one condition: you need to use the service as part of your work and you need to be able to prove it (for example, no firewall that prevents Spotify from being at the office) , etc.). The services must be an addition to your company.
⚠️ You need to be able to justify the costs: so do not try to argue that you need a Netflix subscription to be able to relax after work.
If the use is mixed, both private and professional, it is necessary to carefully state what the professional use is. For example, if you work 3 days a week, you apply a ratio of 3 to 7 to the cost of the subscription.
Attention, in the context of SABAM and copyright fees, it is important to note that the streaming services are intended for private use only: places that are publicly accessible, such as shops, restaurants, cafes, cinemas or commercial buildings, cannot use streaming services...
Existing agreements between Sabam and other services limit copyright authorization to non-commercial use. This limitation can usually be found in the general terms of use of these services.
For more information about the rules of SABAM, go to https://www.sabam.be/en/users/music/legal-music-sources
FAQs
As mentioned above, the IRS states that it must be “ordinary and necessary” for your business, and only used for your business. If you have a music streaming service that you use for both personal and business purposes, you can't deduct it.
What subscriptions are tax deductible? ›
Subscriptions to magazines, newspapers, journals, newsletters, and similar publications can be a deductible expense.
Can you write off Netflix subscription? ›
Netflix is for personal use and cannot be claimed as a personal or business expense, which is stated in our Terms of Use.
Can you write off Apple music subscription? ›
If you pay for a music service like Spotify or Apple Music to entertain passengers while working, your monthly subscription fee is tax deductible. If you're traveling for work, you can deduct a percentage of your hotel and transportation expenses. Licenses or memberships that help you do your job are deductible.
What entertainment expenses are 100% deductible? ›
Here are some common examples of 100% deductible meals and entertainment expenses:
- A company-wide holiday party.
- Food and drinks provided free of charge for the public.
- Food included as taxable compensation to employees and included on the W-2.
Spotify and itunes are generally deductible for musicians, for example. As the cost of these downloads is typically small, you do not need to keep the emailed receipt. (Although you should save it somewhere just in case).
Can you write off Amazon subscription? ›
What expenses can actually be deducted (Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc.)? Absolutely. Those are direct expenses, so you can take those whether you have a home office or not, because some of those expenses are actual.
What deductions can I claim without receipts? ›
What does the IRS allow you to deduct (or “write off”) without receipts?
- Self-employment taxes. ...
- Home office expenses. ...
- Self-employed health insurance premiums. ...
- Self-employed retirement plan contributions. ...
- Vehicle expenses. ...
- Cell phone expenses.
Personal disability insurance premiums. Personal, living, and family expenses. Pet expenses (veterinarian bills, tags, and registration fees) Political contributions.
Can I write off my streaming services? ›
You're only allowed to write off a percentage of a subscription based on how much you use it for work. That means many subscriptions are only partially tax-deductible.
So she can in fact deduct Netflix, Hulu, or other subscriptions. She can also deduct movie tickets for business purposes. However, if your profession is not acting and you just want to “learn about acting,” that would not be considered a necessary business expense, and you would not be able to deduct Netflix, etc.
Can you write off streaming expenses? ›
Streamer Expense #5 - Stream Room
If you have a room in your home/apartment that is used strictly for streaming or content creation, you can deduct a portion of your home expenses (or rent costs) on your tax return. You'll file Form 8829 — “Expenses for Business Use of Your Home” to claim the deduction.
What are professional subscriptions for tax purposes? ›
You can claim tax relief on: professional membership fees, if you must pay the fees to be able to do your job. annual subscriptions you pay to approved professional bodies or learned societies if being a member of that body or society is relevant to your job.
How do I get reimbursed for Apple subscriptions? ›
How to request a refund
- Sign in to reportaproblem.apple.com.
- Tap or click "I'd like to," then choose "Request a refund."
- Choose the reason why you want a refund, then choose Next.
- Choose the app, subscription, or other item, then choose Submit.
As laid out in our Terms and Conditions, Spotify is only for personal, non-commercial use.
Which of the following expenses is 100% deductible in 2022? ›
Beginning January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2022, businesses may claim an income tax deduction for 100% of the food or beverage expenses paid to restaurants as long as the business owner (or an employee of the business) is present when food or beverages are provided, and the expense is not lavish or extravagant ...
Can I write off entertainment expenses 2022? ›
This means all meals eligible for a 50 percent deduction qualify for 100 percent tax deductibility during 2021 and 2022. However, these temporary tax deduction measures are only applicable for meals. Entertainment expenses are still non-deductible.
How much entertainment expenses can I claim? ›
For 2018 and beyond, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) permanently eliminated deductions for most business-related entertainment expenses. Before the TCJA, you could deduct 50% of the cost of most business entertainment.
Is Sirius XM tax deductible? ›
Any work-related apps, including for navigation and taxes (like Keeper!) can be written off. Snacks and bottled drinks that you offer to passengers are tax-deductible. Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Sirius XM, and other subscriptions used to entertain passengers are write-offs.
Can I deduct Amazon Prime membership? ›
What expenses can actually be deducted (Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc.)? Absolutely. Those are direct expenses, so you can take those whether you have a home office or not, because some of those expenses are actual.
As with your car, you're only allowed to deduct the portion of your smartphone expenses that are related to your business use. For that reason, many Uber driver-partners purchase a new phone and dedicate it solely to their business. That way, 100% of all costs associated with that phone are deductible from their taxes.
What type of expense is a gym membership? ›
Typically these deductible expenses involve the supervision of a therapist or some expert that provides guidance through the routine. The take away from this is that your standard gym membership or health club membership is a personal expense and is not deductible.
