Expenses you can deduct as a blogger for tax

As a blogger running Canadian Personal Finance, I have expenses. I also run both of these blogs as a business as they generate revenue and that is my main goal with these blogs (not a hobby).

One of the best things a person can do to earn extra money is to start a part-time business. It doesn’t matter what skills you have (decorating, sewing, writing, carpentry, design, yard care). All these skills are valuable because another person will pay for these services.

[quote]When you start a blog, the expenses that are attributable to your blogging business are deductible.[/quote]

Examples of expenses that are potentially deductible include:

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• Home office: you can deduct a percentage of utilities, insurance, and even mortgage interest or rent that is used to conduct business. However, the part of your home or apartment must be used exclusively and regularly for business. The space must be exclusively workspace and it must be your actual office and not just at your home for convenience.
• Business Cards to advertise your blog.
• Books for research for your blog.
• Magazine subscriptions in your niche. For example, if I subscribed to National Post or Globe and Mail, it would be a valid deduction.
• Membership dues: Are you a Toastmasters member or do you belong to a club where you have dues that is related to you niche?
• Internet Service charges: How much of your Internet do you attribute to your blog writing?
• Website Hosting and Design: Did you hire someone to design a logo or host your blog?
• Video or Digital Camera: If you run a food blog or do review of products, photo and video are important. This is an expense you could have.
• Phone charges: Do you interview people or have to call editors?
• PC and upgrades: This is a reasonable expense if you are running a professional blog.
• Storage: Do you save your backups with Dropbox?
• Anti-virus or software: Do you use Word or Office? It is reasonable to use these costs as an expense for your business.
• Trade-show attendance: Did you go to any trade shows last year in your niche? The most you can attend and legally deduct in Canada is 2 at the moment. Includes Transporation, Hotel, Parking, Conference Fees, and Food and Drink purchases.

Before relying on any information given on this site, contact a tax professional to discuss your particular situation. If you have a question.