Common Tax Deductions for Coaches and Personal Trainers
Just like many other specialized professions, coaches and personal trainers can benefit from some specific tax deductions. Here's an up-to-date guide on tax deductions for coaches and personal trainers.
The One Big Beautiful Bill that passed includes permanently extending tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including increasing the cap on the amount of state and local or sales tax and property tax (SALT) that you can deduct, makes cuts to energy credits passed under the Inflation Reduction Act, makes changes to taxes on tips and overtime for certain workers, reforms Medicaid, increases the Debt ceiling, and reforms Pell Grants and student loans. Updates to this article are in process. Check our One Big Beautiful Bill article for more information.
Key Takeaways
- The itemized Educator Expense Deduction is available to school coaches who work at least 900 hours during the academic year.
- Self-employed coaches and personal trainers usually can deduct supplies, equipment, uniforms, education and certifications, medical exams, meals, travel and transportation costs, and subscriptions related to work.
- Technology-related expenses such as video cameras, microphones, videoconferencing software, and lighting equipment can be deducted if they are necessary to your business.
- Volunteer coaches may be able to deduct certain out-of-pocket expenses, including travel costs (but can't deduct the value of their time).
Can school coaches deduct out-of-pocket expenses?
Starting with the 2026 tax year, school team coaches may be able to deduct certain out-of-pocket expenses for the team. However, there are a number of requirements for this tax deduction, such as:
- you must claim itemized deductions on your tax return (instead of the Standard Deduction)
- the team must be sponsored by an elementary or secondary school (kindergarten through 12th grade)
- you must be a coach, sports administrator, teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide in the school for at least 900 hours during the school year
If you qualify for the itemized Educator Expense Deduction, you can deduct unreimbursed expenses for:
- professional development courses related to your coaching duties
- equipment and supplies used as part of your instructional activities
What can self-employed coaches, personal trainers, and fitness coaches deduct?
Aside from itemized Educator Expense Deduction for school coaches, self-employed coaches and trainers can deduct certain work-related business expenses, such as the cost of:
- supplies and equipment
- uniforms
- education and certifications necessary for you to perform your job's requirements
- medical exams required for work
- meals (but subject to certain limitations on business tax deductions like the one-half rule and only when away from home overnight on work-related business)
- travel and transportation costs
- subscriptions related to work
As a self-employed coach or trainer, you can deduct many expenses that are both "ordinary and necessary" to your coaching work. To claim these deductions, your coaching must qualify as work — otherwise, it's just a hobby.
TurboTax Tip:
The home office tax deduction is available to self-employed people and small business owners who use a portion of their home regularly to conduct their work or is a place where they regularly meet with customers or clients in person.
What tax deductions are available if I'm coaching online?
You may have recently begun offering classes or sessions online to reach your clients and paid technology costs to support your trade or business. If these technology-related expenses become necessary to earn a living in your trade, you can deduct these expenses on your tax return.
Items can include costs like:
- video cameras
- microphones
- videoconferencing software and subscriptions
- laptops
- lighting equipment
Can coaches and trainers deduct expenses for a home office?
If you use part of your home for coaching or personal fitness instruction, you may qualify for the Home Office Deduction if you're a self-employed person operating as a sole proprietor.
You must satisfy several requirements to claim the Home Office Deduction, including the:
- Regular and exclusive use requirement – You have to use a portion of your house, apartment, or other living space regularly and exclusively to conduct your work. This can also include other structures on your property, like an unattached exercise studio, barn, greenhouse, or garage.
- Principal place of business requirement – Your home office must be either the principal location of your business or a place where you regularly meet with customers or clients in person. It can also qualify if it’s used for the administrative or management activities of your trade or business.
Can I deduct any expenses if I'm a volunteer coach?
What if you coach your town's Little League team as a volunteer? You're probably not paid for this work, so the work-related deduction and the Educator Expense Deduction aren't available to you.
However, if you itemize, you may be able to claim a charitable deduction for certain out-of-pocket expenses if you're volunteering for an eligible organization (the IRS's has an online database that lists eligible organizations). For example, if you may be able to deduct the cost of sports equipment you pay for with your own money.
You can also deduct travel expenses if you drive your own car as a volunteer. In that case, you can deduct either of:
- your actual expenses for gas, oil, and the like
- 14¢ per mile, the standard mileage rate for charitable expenses
You can deduct tolls and parking fees, too.
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