Legal Fees
Attorney fees for contracts, trademarks, business formation, and legal advice.
Tax Form
Schedule C, Line 17
Estimated Savings
$200-5,000/year
Income Level
How It Works
Legal fees related to your content creation business are fully deductible. This includes attorney fees for reviewing brand contracts, trademark registration, LLC or S-Corp formation, business legal advice, and contract drafting. Legal expenses must be ordinary and necessary for your business.
IRS Rules & Requirements
- Legal fees must be related to your business
- Contract review and drafting fees are deductible
- Trademark and copyright registration fees qualify
- Business formation costs (LLC, S-Corp) are deductible
- Personal legal matters are NOT deductible
Real Examples
Attorney review of brand partnership contract at $500 = fully deductible
Trademark registration for your brand at $350 = fully deductible
LLC formation legal fees at $800 = fully deductible
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Deducting personal legal fees as business expenses
- Forgetting to deduct contract review costs
- Missing trademark and copyright filing fees
Pro Tip
Legal fees to set up an LLC or S-Corp are deductible as startup costs. These can be deducted in the first year up to $5,000, with the rest amortized over 15 years.
Related Deductions
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