Tax Write-offs for ASL Interpreters

Disclaimer: I'm not a tax expert, so please make sure to double check current IRS rules and laws, and ask a CPA or EA any questions you may have. Also, all this information is based on my knowledge as of December 30, 2025.

1. Gas Mileage

This is definitely the biggest one, at least for a lot of us. Gas mileage to and from jobs (if you have a home office), and in between jobs. Gas mileage to the airport for business trips and gas mileage to workshops and trainings. It adds up quick, I hope you have a fuel efficient car.

2. Home Office Deduction

I just do the standard $5/sq foot. It's easiest and then I don't worry about wifi, utilities, home insurance, etc. You have to follow all the rules, it's a home office space only used for business purposes.

3. Travel

That's a huge category. Hotels, flights, baggage fees, lyft or uber, and travel meals. I only took one business trip this year and I had a stack of receipts from that trip. If your employer or agency is paying for all those things, you can only write it off if you're paid and reimbursed as income vs. it being separate. If it's separate, you just don't put the reimbursement portion as income.

4. Equipment

VRI equipment, tech, random things like a portable music stand, all of it can be deductible. For tech, you just write off the business portion, so for example, I bought a tablet this year and I can only write off the percentage I use for work.

5. Phone Costs

Once again, the business use of your phone. If you have two phones, you can write off the business phone entirely, but if you use a personal phone for your business, you just write off the business percentage. I print off an itemized phone call list and highlight the business calls for one month just to prove how I came up with the "Business percentage".

6. Costs of Test Fees, Workshops, Trainings, Courses, and Books

Interpreters tend to do a lot of professional development, it's completely deductible. Test fees and licensing fees as well.

So there you have it, some of the most common tax write-offs for ASL interpreters.

Photo Credit: Photo by Dimitri Karastelev on Unsplash