The basic rule is simple: an expense must be necessary for your professional activity and provable with documents.
Fully deductible costs
These expenses are usually 100% deductible when they are clearly business-related:
- professional software and licences
- office supplies and small equipment
- accounting and advisory fees
- telephone and internet (professional subscription)
- training directly linked to your activity
Partly deductible costs
Some costs have both private and professional use. In that case, only the business part is deductible.
- car expenses
- mobile phone
- home office
- computer used privately as well
The proportion must be reasonable and defensible. Keeping simple notes helps during inspections.
Representation costs
Meals, receptions and gifts are subject to stricter rules. They are often only partly deductible, or not deductible at all.
Depreciation
Larger purchases such as machines, computers or furniture are not deducted all at once, but spread over several years. This is called depreciation.
What about private purchases?
Private expenses remain private. Mixing them into the business account creates confusion and may lead to tax corrections.
My advice
Keep your receipts, use a separate business account and make brief notes when an expense is partly private.
During a consultation we review:
- which costs you may currently be missing
- which expenses are risky
- how to organise proof documents
- how to optimise deductions legally