What tax deductions can I claim as self-employed in Canada?

Self-employed Canadians report business income on Form T2125 and can deduct all expenses incurred to earn business income. Major deductible categories: home office expenses (T2125 Part 7); vehicle expenses (T2125 Part 4, logbook required); meals and entertainment (50% of business-related meals); advertising and promotion; professional development and education directly related to your current business; business insurance; professional dues and memberships; accounting and legal fees; business phone and internet (business portion); health and dental insurance premiums (through a Private Health Services Plan); salaries paid to arm's-length employees; office supplies; software and subscriptions; Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) on depreciable assets (computers, equipment, furniture). The core CRA test: expenses must be incurred for the purpose of earning income from the business, not personal in nature.

Can I deduct health and dental insurance premiums as self-employed?

Yes — self-employed Canadians can deduct health and dental insurance premiums through a Private Health Services Plan (PHSP). However, there are rules. If you have no employees, you can deduct your PHSP premiums as a business expense, but only up to a limit: the lesser of your net income from self-employment, or $1,500 for a single person, $2,500 for a family. If you have employees and provide them the same or comparable PHSP coverage, the deduction limit disappears and you can deduct the full amount of employee premiums (and your own coverage can then be deducted in full as a benefit to yourself as an employee of your own corporation, if incorporated). An incorporated owner-manager deducts PHSP premiums as a corporate expense — this is one significant advantage of incorporation for self-employed individuals with health costs. Personal health insurance premiums paid outside a PHSP are a medical expense tax credit, not a business deduction.

What is the home office deduction and how much can I claim?

You can deduct the business-use portion of your home costs against self-employment income. Method 1 (detailed method, T2125 Part 7): calculate the percentage of your home used exclusively and regularly for business (sq ft of office ÷ total sq ft). Apply that percentage to eligible home expenses: heat, electricity, water, home insurance, mortgage interest (not principal), property taxes (owned home), rent (rented home). Also deduct 100% of any expenses entirely for the work space (dedicated phone line, dedicated internet for business use). Method 2 (flat rate): not available for self-employed on T2125 the same way as employed (that was a COVID measure for employees). The office space must be your principal place of business OR used exclusively to meet clients regularly. You cannot create or increase a net business loss using home office expenses — claim up to net income from that business, carry excess forward.

Can I deduct meals and entertainment?

Yes — but only 50%. Business-related meals and entertainment with clients, prospects, employees, or business partners are 50% deductible on T2125. You must have a legitimate business purpose (not purely social). Record-keeping: keep all receipts and note the business purpose, who attended, and the business reason for each meal. Common mistakes: deducting 100% instead of 50%; claiming personal meals as business meals; meals while commuting to a regular place of business (not deductible). Exceptions to the 50% rule: meals at a work site where you provide food to employees on your premises may be 100% deductible in some circumstances; meals at a conference where food is included in admission fees are 100% deductible (food cost is incidental to the conference).

What is Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) and how do I claim it?

Capital Cost Allowance (CCA) is the tax mechanism for deducting the cost of capital property (equipment you keep for more than one year) over time — similar to depreciation. You cannot deduct the full cost of a computer or vehicle in the year of purchase; instead, you claim CCA annually based on the asset class rate. Common CCA classes for self-employed: Class 8 (20%): office furniture, equipment, tools — declining balance; Class 10 (30%): general purpose vehicles; Class 10.1 (30%): passenger vehicles costing over $37,000 (2026 limit) — separate calculation applies; Class 12 (100%): small tools under $500, software — can deduct full cost in year 1; Class 45/50/53: computer hardware (55%–100% in year 1 depending on acquisition date); Class 14.1 (5%): goodwill and certain intangibles. Half-year rule: in the year you acquire an asset, you can only claim half the normal CCA — except Class 12 and some accelerated classes. You are not required to claim maximum CCA each year — it is discretionary; unclaimed CCA carries forward in your Undepreciated Capital Cost (UCC) balance.

Self-Employed Tax Deductions Canada 2026 — Complete Guide to Business Write-Offs

The Master Deduction Checklist — T2125

Category	Deductible?	Amount / Rule
Home office	Yes	Business % of home expenses (no loss creation)
Vehicle	Yes	Business-use % of all vehicle costs; logbook required
Meals & entertainment	50%	Must have business purpose; receipt + notes
Advertising & marketing	100%	Website, ads, social media, print materials
Professional development	100%	Courses, books, subscriptions directly related to current business
Professional memberships & dues	100%	Professional association fees directly related to business
Accounting & bookkeeping fees	100%	Tax preparation for business return; bookkeeping software
Legal fees	100%	Business contracts, collections, business advice
Business insurance	100%	E&O, professional liability, business property
Business phone	Business %	Separate line = 100%; shared personal line = business %
Internet	Business %	If shared personal/business: allocate reasonably
Office supplies	100%	Paper, ink, pens, stamps, etc. used for business
Software subscriptions	100%	Business tools (CRM, accounting software, project management)
Capital Cost Allowance (CCA)	Yes	See class rates; half-year rule applies year 1
Salaries (employees)	100%	Must be arm’s-length; reasonable for work performed
Health insurance premiums (PHSP)	Yes	Up to limits if no employees; see FAQ above
Bank charges (business account)	100%	Monthly fees, transaction fees on business account
Postage & courier	100%	Business-related shipping, postage
Bad debt	Yes	Uncollected revenue previously reported as income
Mortgage interest (home office)	Business %	Only the interest, not principal repayment

What Is NOT Deductible

Expense	Why Not Deductible
Personal portion of any expense	CRA requires actual business-use allocation
Commuting to a fixed regular workplace	Personal travel, not business travel
Life insurance premiums	Personal expense (separate estate planning strategy)
Personal clothing	Uniforms/protective gear may qualify; regular clothing does not
Mortgage principal	Only interest is deductible; principal reduces personal debt
Income tax payments	Not a business expense
Personal meals (no business purpose)	Must have a business reason
Home renovation costs (if home office)	Capital in nature; only deductible through CCA if a separate addition
Club memberships (golf, social)	Specifically prohibited under ITA s. 18(1)(l)
Traffic fines	Penalties and fines are not deductible

CCA Class Quick Reference

Class	Rate	Common Assets
Class 8	20% declining balance	Furniture, general equipment, tools over $500
Class 10	30% declining balance	General-purpose motor vehicles
Class 10.1	30% declining balance	Passenger vehicles over $37,000 (2026) — separate calculation
Class 12	100% (first year)	Small tools under $500; licensed software; kitchen utensils
Class 14.1	5% declining balance	Goodwill, customer lists, certain intangibles
Class 44	25%	Patents
Class 45	45%	General-purpose computer equipment (pre-2018)
Class 50	55%	General-purpose computer equipment (newer)
Class 53	50%	M&P computer equipment
Class 54/55	30% / 40%	Zero-emission vehicles

Half-year rule applies in year of acquisition for most classes (claim only 50% of normal rate).

Vehicle Deductions — Business Use Percentage

Scenario	Deductible Costs
Logbook shows 70% business use	70% of: fuel, insurance, repairs, maintenance, CCA or lease payments, parking, registration
100% business vehicle (e.g., work van, no personal use)	100% — must document no personal use
Passenger vehicle over $37,000 (2026 limit)	CCA capped at Class 10.1 cost of $37,000; lease deduction also capped
No logbook	CRA can deny the entire vehicle deduction — logbook is not optional

Health Insurance Premium Deduction — PHSP Rules

Situation	Deduction Treatment
Sole proprietor, no employees	Lesser of: net self-employment income OR $1,500 single / $2,500 family
Sole proprietor with employees (same PHSP coverage)	Full premiums deductible; limits removed
Incorporated owner-manager	Full premiums deductible as corporate expense; no personal limit
Group insurance premium from external insurer	Must qualify as a PHSP; standard insured plans qualify
Health Spending Account (HSA) you set up for yourself	Must be structured as a legitimate PHSP; consult accountant

Meals Deduction — Record-Keeping Template

Field	What to Record
Date	Date of the meal
Location	Restaurant name and city
Amount	Total receipt amount
Business purpose	Reason for the meeting (e.g., “project scoping meeting with Client X”)
Attendees	Names and business relationship
Deductible amount	50% of total