As an architect working on various projects, you will have to pay different taxes - which brings us to the question, what can an architect deduct from taxes? If you are employed at an architectural firm, the chances are that they will handle your taxes.
However, when you are self-employed, you have to deal with these taxes yourself. Luckily, some of them can be deducted, allowing you to save on your business expenses.
Note: The best way to reduce your tax bill is by using an automatic expense tracker like Bonsai Tax. Bonsai Tax scans your credit card/bank statements to discover potential tax write-offs. The majority of users save ~$5,600 from their tax bill. Try a 14-day free trial today.
Here are some of the taxes that you can deduct as a freelancing architect.
If you have to go to locations across the state or the country, then you may also deduct travel expenses. This type of tax deduction can include hotel stays, plane tickets, parking fees, as well as travel meals.
For instance, if your projects take you far away from home, causing you to stay overnight, then you may deduct the food based on where you eat.
Restaurants are generally 100% deductible, while grocery stores and fast food shops are 50%. For instance, if you buy a hamburger before your flight home at the airport, then you may deduct 50%.
If you meet with your clients or other people to discuss business, those meals may also be deductible. For the most part, meals were only 50% deductible. However, as of 2021, meals started being 100% deductible - especially if the meal is taken in a restaurant. Read our full guide on the business meal deduction.
Education and training are also considered business expenses, which means you can deduct them as well. This includes training courses such as first aid, computer skills, UHS, or project management.
You may also claim educational tax deductions for stationery, books, or other tools needed for your study. Courses run by universities can also be deducted, but only if they are the self-education kind.
Workplace utilities and office supplies can also be tax deductible. For instance, if a good part of your work is conducted at your home office, you may deduct things such as office equipment, rent for the room, and many more.
If you made your workspace energy efficient, you may also claim tax credits for that. The tax law states that if you use less than 50% of what the average International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Standards of 2006 were, then you may claim a tax credit up to $2,000.
If you have to pay for a business expense but your current adjusted gross income does not allow you to do it, then you can take out a business loan. If you do, then you may also qualify for tax credits.
For you to receive the tax credit, at least 60% of the amount you received should be paid on wages. PPP loans were specifically excluded from the taxable income section, but as of 2021, they qualify as a tax deduction as well.
Other useful tax deductions for architects include reference materials. Not only does this include physical materials and data, but you can also add hardware and software to the mix.
For instance, if you are using software to backup your information and invoices from programs such as Bonsai, then you may get a deduction for that. Make sure to save the receipts (something that also applies to other deductions).
While you may not be able to claim tax deductions for the entire self-employment tax, you will at least get half. You are practically deducting the half that your employer used to pay.
With this tax, you will pay 15.3% of your earnings. This means that when you get your tax return, you will get 7.5% of that amount back.
When you just start a business, you will have certain expenses that you will need to cover. The actual expenses can be different, going from office supplies to the costs of filing certain documents. For instance, if you are planning to open your own office in a government building, you'll have to pay a startup fee to settle yourself there. Start-up fees are fully deductible.
If you use a vehicle for business purposes, whether it's a regular car, truck, or van, then you may get tax deductions for it as well. This includes insurance, gas, as well as services. Individual expenses may also be claimed - for example, an oil change.
Software may also be deducted. As of 2016, you are allowed to deduct up to $2,500 in terms of software expenses. If the software or software suite costs more than $2,500, then it will be subjected to business depreciation.
This can be very helpful if you are using architecture apps or even invoicing and finance apps such as Bonsai's online freelance tool suite. If you have a premium plan, this can help you in the long run.
As an architect, you may need to oversee the use of certain products throughout the construction project. These products may be claimed as tax deductible.
With that in mind, there are some things that you must keep in mind. For instance, if your business produces these goods, then you may deduct the costs of some of the items. However, labor costs cannot be deducted using wage or salary deductions.
If you work at an engineering firm and need to invest in equipment for the job site, then you may also claim tax deductions for architects. Bear in mind that if the costs for these products go past $2,500, then they will be subjected to bonus depreciation.
Many businesses bring their work online, so if you are doing your own advertising and marketing, then you can deduct these expenses. This includes business cards, website development, domain costs, and many more.
If you are spending money on Yelp, Facebook, Google AdWords, or other similar platforms, you may also deduct these taxes. Plus, if you are doing campaigns through magazine ads and postcards, these can be deducted as well.
Insurance costs can also constitute legal tax deductions for architects. This includes anything from health insurance to liability or car insurance.
For example, you may get deductions for your general business coverage insurance, or you may get them for business vehicle insurance. The condition is that you need to prove that you are a sole proprietor and that the insurance is specifically needed for business.
If you have employees joining you at the job sites, then you may claim payroll taxes. Certain taxes such as the state employment tax or FICA must be paid out of your pocket, but you can easily deduct them if you run a small business as an architect.
Your work clothes can also be deducted during tax season. This includes anything from work pants, jumpers, shirts, jackets, and more. The condition for them to be tax deductible is that they need to be part of your uniform - which means that there should also be a business logo somewhere.
You can deduct the costs of laundry, repairs, and dry cleaning of your work clothes. Protective equipment such as masks, gloves - even sun protection items - are deductible.
Once more, if you have employees to which you need to provide benefits, then you may deduct those benefits. This can include anything from insurance, retirement plans, vacation days, sick days, and transportation benefits.
As an architect, you have the same advantages as other self-employed people: if the expenses are made for your business, then you may deduct them. Just make sure that you write them off correctly so that you do not trigger an audit. Review our architect accounting software options to help you file your taxes. Hopefully, our tax tips were helpful for you.
A verbal contract (formally called an oral contract) refers to an agreement between two parties that's made —you guessed it— verbally.
Formal contracts, like those between an employee and an employer, are typically written down. However, some professional transactions take place based on verbally agreed terms.
Freelancers are a good example of this. Often, freelancers will take on projects having agreed on the terms and payment via the phone, or an email. Unfortunately, sometimes clients don't pull through on their agreements, and hardworking freelancers can find themselves out of pocket and wondering whether a legal battle is worth all the hassle.
The main differences between written and oral contracts are that the former is signed and documented, whereas the latter is solely attributed to verbal communication.
Verbal contracts are a bit of a gray area for most people unfamiliar with contract law —which is most of us, right?— due to the fact that there's no physical evidence to support the claims made by the implemented parties.
For any contract (written or verbal) to be binding, there are four major elements which need to be in place. The crucial elements of a contract are as follows:
Therefore, an oral agreement has legal validity if all of these elements are present. However, verbal contracts can be difficult to enforce in a court of law. In the next section, we take a look at how oral agreements hold up in court.
Most business professionals are wary of entering into contracts orally because they can difficult to enforce in the face of the law.
If an oral contract is brought in front of a court of law, there is increased risk of one party (or both!) lying about the initial terms of the agreement. This is problematic for the court, as there's no unbiased way to conclude the case; often, this will result in the case being disregarded. Moreover, it can be difficult to outline contract defects if it's not in writing.
That being said, there are plenty of situations where enforceable contracts do not need to be written or spoken, they're simply implied. For instance, when you buy milk from a store, you give something in exchange for something else and enter into an implied contract, in this case - money is exchanged for goods.
There are some types of contracts which must be in writing.
The Statute of Frauds is a legal statute which states that certain kinds of contracts must be executed in writing and signed by the parties involved. The Statute of Frauds has been adopted in almost all U.S states, and requires a written contract for the following purposes:
Typically, a court of law won't enforce an oral agreement in any of these circumstances under the statute. Instead, a written document is required to make the contract enforceable.
Contract law is generally doesn't favor contracts agreed upon verbally. A verbal agreement is difficult to prove, and can be used by those intent on committing fraud. For that reason, it's always best to put any agreements in writing and ensure all parties have fully understood and consented to signing.
Verbal agreements can be proven with actions in the absence of physical documentation. Any oral promise to provide the sale of goods or perform a service that you agreed to counts as a valid contract. So, when facing a court of law, what evidence can you provide to enforce a verbal agreement?
Unfortunately, without solid proof, it may be difficult to convince a court of the legality of an oral contract. Without witnesses to testify to the oral agreement taking place or other forms of evidence, oral contracts won't stand up in court. Instead, it becomes a matter of "he-said-she-said" - which legal professionals definitely don't have time for!
If you were to enter into a verbal contract, it's recommended to follow up with an email or a letter confirming the offer, the terms of the agreement , and payment conditions. The more you can document the elements of a contract, the better your chances of legally enforcing a oral contract.
Another option is to make a recording of the conversation where the agreement is verbalized. This can be used to support your claims in the absence of a written agreement. However, it's always best to gain the permission of the other involved parties before hitting record.
Fundamentally, most verbal agreements are legally valid as long as they meet all the requirements for a contract. However, if you were to go to court over one party not fulfilling the terms of the contract, proving that the interaction took place can be extremely taxing.
So, ultimately, the question is: written or verbal agreements?
Any good lawyer, contract law firm, or legal professional would advise you to make sure you formalize any professional agreement with a written agreement. Written contracts provide a secure testament to the conditions that were agreed and signed by the two parties involved. If it comes to it, a physical contract is much easier to eviden in legal circumstances.
Freelancers, in particular, should be aware of the extra security that digital contracts may provide. Many people choose to stick to executing contracts verbally because they're not sure how to write a contract, or they think writing out the contract terms is too complicated or requires expensive legal advice. However, this is no longer the case.
Today, we have a world of resources available at our fingertips. The internet is a treasure trove of invaluable information, platforms, and software that simplifies our lives. Creating, signing, and sending contracts has never been easier. What's more, you don't have to rely on a hiring a lawyer to explain all that legal jargon anymore.
There are plenty of tools available online for freelancers to use for guidance when drafting digital contracts. Tools like Bonsai provide a range of customizable, vetted contract templates for all kinds of freelance professionals. No matter what industry you're operating in, Bonsai has a professional template to offer.
A written contract makes the agreement much easier to prove the terms of the agreement in case something were to go awry. The two parties involved can rest assured that they're legal rights are protected, and the terms of the contract are sufficiently documented. Plus, it provides both parties with peace of mind to focus on the tasks at hand.
Bonsai's product suite for freelancers allows users to make contracts from scratch, or using professional templates, and sign them using an online signature maker.
With Bonsai, you can streamline and automate all of the boring back-office tasks that come with being a freelancer. From creating proposals that clients can't say no to, to sealing the deal with a professional contract - Bonsai will revolutionize the way you do business as a freelancer.
Why not secure your business today and sign up for a free trial?