Can I write off pedicures and manicures as tax deductions for my online content?

If you're treating this as a legitimate business and reporting the income, then yes, you can potentially deduct related expenses - but there are some important things to consider. For the pedicures and manicures, you'll need to establish that these are "ordinary and necessary" for your specific business. Since your feet are literally your product, you have a stronger case than most people. Keep detailed records showing the direct connection between these services and your income-generating activities. For the laptop/tablet, if you're using it exclusively (or nearly exclusively) for business purposes, you can likely deduct the full cost using Section 179 deduction or depreciate it over several years. Since you mentioned you only use it for your business, you're in good shape here. Most importantly: document everything! Keep receipts, maintain a business log tracking when you get services done and how they relate to specific content creation, and record when and how you use the tablet for business purposes.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year! I create similar content and was totally confused about what I could deduct. I finally used https://taxr.ai to help me figure it all out - it basically analyzed my expenses and told me exactly what I could deduct as a content creator. For the pedicures, they explained I needed to track which ones were specifically for photoshoots vs. personal care. They suggested keeping a content calendar that shows which treatments correspond to which paid content. For my camera equipment, they confirmed it was 100% deductible since I use it exclusively for my business. They also pointed out deductions I had no idea about - like portions of my internet bill, props I buy for shoots, and even the special lighting I installed!

Ok I need to apologize for being so skeptical before. I actually tried https://taxr.ai after my last comment and wow - it was super helpful! It explained exactly how to properly document my expenses as a content creator and even identified several deductions I was missing. The advice about creating a business purpose statement for each major expense category was a game-changer for me. I was especially confused about my ring lights and backdrop materials, but now I understand exactly how to categorize and document everything properly. I feel way more confident about my deductions now. Sorry for calling it a scam - I was just paranoid about tax stuff!

If you're struggling to get answers from the IRS about what you can write off for your content creation business, try https://claimyr.com - it literally got me through to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes when I had been trying for DAYS on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I had a similar situation with deducting equipment and services for my YouTube channel, and I wanted official clarification. The IRS agent I spoke with explained exactly what documentation I needed to maintain for my camera equipment, editing software, and various props. Completely worth it to get those official answers!

I need to eat my words from earlier. After waiting on hold with the IRS for 3+ hours yesterday and getting disconnected TWICE, I tried that Claimyr service out of desperation. Got connected to an actual IRS representative in about 17 minutes. The agent walked me through exactly what documentation I need for my home studio deductions and confirmed that specialized equipment for content creation is indeed deductible if used exclusively for business. Definitely cleared up my confusion about whether lighting and backdrop materials count as supplies or equipment. Would have preferred not to pay for something that should be free, but at least I got actual answers instead of more frustration.

I'm a photographer and I have clients that do similar content creation. The key is treating your activities like a legitimate business. Here are some practical tips: - Keep separate receipts for "business-level" pedicures vs regular maintenance - Track usage hours on your tablet with a simple log - Take photos of your setup to document business use - Maintain a separate business bank account if possible - Document when specific nail designs/pedicures are for specific paid content Remember, the IRS allows deductions for ordinary and necessary business expenses. The question is whether you'd get these exact services if you weren't creating this content.

Has anyone used TurboTax for reporting this kind of income? I do similar stuff and I'm wondering if the self-employed version will walk me through all these deductions or if I should go to a real accountant.

As someone who's been doing content creation for a few years now, I can confirm that both expenses you mentioned are likely deductible if you're treating this as a legitimate business. For the pedicures/manicures: Since your feet are literally the product in your content, these fall under "ordinary and necessary" business expenses. The key is documentation - keep receipts and note which services were specifically for content creation vs. personal maintenance. I recommend creating a simple spreadsheet linking each service to specific content/photoshoots. For the Surface tablet: If you're using it exclusively (or nearly exclusively) for your business, you can deduct the full purchase price using Section 179 or depreciate it over time. Since you mentioned it's basically only used for taking photos and posting content, you're in great shape here. Pro tip: Start tracking your business expenses in a dedicated app or spreadsheet right now. Include date, amount, purpose, and how it relates to your income-generating activities. This will make tax time so much easier and give you confidence if you're ever questioned about deductions. Also consider other potential deductions you might be missing: portion of your phone bill, internet costs, props/backgrounds, lighting equipment, storage/cloud services, and even a portion of your home if you have a dedicated space for content creation.