Tax Tips for Photographers: Deductions, Mileage, and Year-Round Prep (with Heather Lacey)

About this episode

Nikki and Heather Lacey discuss essential tax tips for photographers, including deductions and year-round preparation.

Taxes don’t have to be the thing you avoid until April. In this episode of The Portrait System, Nikki sits down with Heather Leicy (tax prep educator + bookkeeper + working photographer) to break down photographer tax deductions, year-round tax prep, and the biggest “can I write this off?” mistakes. You’ll learn: What to do monthly so you’re not scrambling at tax time A simple system for setting aside 20–30% for taxes Common photographer deductions: education, software, gear, website costs, client gifts The truth about meals/coffee write-offs (when it counts, when it doesn’t) Home office deduction basics and “dedicated space” rules Why mileage tracking is one of the most missed deductions (and the app Heather recommends) A simple breakdown of LLC vs S-corp taxation and why it’s a math decision Why sales tax rules vary so much by state (digital vs physical vs services) Important: This episode is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Tax laws vary by location and change over time. Always consult a qualified CPA/tax professional about your specific situation. Find Heather Instagram: @heather.marie.Leicy Community: Conquer Community –…

People in this episode

Host: Nikki

Guest: Heather Lacey

Topics covered

• tax deductions
• photography
• year-round tax prep
• mileage tracking
• business structure
• sales tax

Keywords

• tax tips
• photographers
• deductions
• mileage
• LLC
• S-corp
• sales tax
• home office deduction

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Conquer Community, Sue Bryce Education

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