You know that satisfaction when you transform an overgrown mess into a magazine-worthy landscape? Your clients see the magic, but do you see the tax savings hiding in every job? That $15,000 commercial mower isn't just cutting grass; it could be cutting your tax bill, too.
Here's the problem: Many landscapers might overpay thousands in taxes because they don't track legitimate business deductions. Unlike office workers who deduct a laptop and call it good, landscaping businesses could have dozens of expensive, specialized deductions.
This guide covers over 40 specific deductions that landscapers can typically claim, along with dollar examples and industry-specific scenarios. By the end, you'll know how to turn your everyday business expenses into tax savings.
Think of your tool shed and equipment storage as a tax deduction warehouse. Every piece of equipment you need to run your landscaping business is potentially deductible.
Your biggest expenses often offer your biggest tax breaks. That commercial mower you've been eyeing? It's not just an investment in your business; it's likely a massive tax deduction waiting to happen.
Commercial mowers and zero-turn equipment: Thanks to Section 179, you can typically deduct the full cost of equipment purchases in the year you buy them. This means that new commercial mower could be fully deductible this year instead of being spread over 5-7 years.
Trucks and trailers: Vehicle depreciation can typically work in your favor. Whether you buy or lease, the business portion is usually deductible. Keep detailed mileage logs to support your deduction.
Compact loaders, mini excavators, and skid steers: These specialized machines typically qualify for immediate deduction under Section 179 or bonus depreciation. The key is proving business use, which shouldn't be hard since that’s not something you use every day in your own backyard.
Don't overlook the smaller stuff. These purchases add up quickly and are typically 100% deductible in the year you buy them.
Professional-grade trimmers and edgers
Chainsaws and pole saws
Leaf blowers
Hedge trimmers and pruning tools
Spreaders and sprayers
Measuring tools, such as laser levels, measuring wheels
Everything you need to stay safe on the job is tax-deductible:
Safety glasses, hard hats, and work gloves
Ear protection and respirator masks
High-visibility clothing and work boots
First aid kits and emergency supplies
If you use equipment for both business and personal use, you can usually only deduct the business percentage. Track your usage honestly. "I use my chainsaw 80% for business" needs real data to back it up.
Every bag of mulch, every plant, and every treatment you purchase for client work could be a business expense hiding in plain sight.
Your raw materials are typically deductible as cost of goods sold or business supplies, depending on how you use them.
Plants, trees, and shrubs: If you're installing them for clients, these are usually cost of goods sold. If you're using them for your own property maintenance business, they're supplies.
Mulch, soil amendments, and compost: Whether you're buying by the bag or by the truckload, these materials are usually fully deductible.
Hardscaping materials, such as pavers, stones, and gravel: These project-specific purchases can often be significant deductions, especially for if the installation job is on the larger side.
Irrigation supplies, such as sprinkler heads, drip systems, and timers: Both installation materials and replacement parts for maintenance work.
Herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides
Organic and synthetic fertilizers
Pre-emergent and post-emergent treatments
Soil testing kits and pH adjusters
Don't forget the everyday items that keep your tools running:
Fuel for equipment (separate from vehicle gas)
Replacement parts (blades, belts, filters)
Maintenance supplies (oil, lubricants, cleaning supplies)
Tarps, ropes, and tie-down equipment
Those supply runs to Home Depot aren't just errands on your to-do list; they're likely legitimate tax deductions that add up quickly. Whether you're driving to client sites or picking up materials, your vehicle expenses are likely deductible. You have two options for calculating this deduction.
When it comes to deducting vehicle expenses related to travel for work, you have two options:
Standard Mileage Rate: Simply track your business miles and multiply by the IRS rate, which typically changes each year.
Actual Expenses Method: Track all vehicle costs (gas, insurance, maintenance, payments) and deduct the percentage used for business.
Client site visits and job estimates
Material pickup runs to suppliers
Equipment service appointments
Networking events and trade shows
Driving between multiple job sites in one day
Commercial vehicle insurance (business percentage)
Vehicle registration and licensing fees
Parking fees and tolls during business travel
Vehicle maintenance and repairs (oil changes, tire rotations)
Tracking tip: Use a mileage tracking app or keep a simple log in your car. Write down the business purpose, starting location, destination, and miles driven. This documentation protects your deduction if questions arise later.
Whether you're managing jobs from your kitchen table or a dedicated office, your workspace can work for your taxes.
You may spend a lot time in the car going from job site to job site, but you also likely use part of your home for business—whether it's scheduling, invoicing, or storing equipment. If that’s the case, you might qualify for the home office deduction. There are two ways to calculate the home office deduction:
Simplified method: $5 per square foot up to 300 square feet. Easy to calculate, but you might leave money on the table.
Actual expense method: Calculate the percentage of your home used for business and deduct that percentage of eligible home expenses (mortgage interest, property taxes, utilities, insurance).
Remember: The space must be your primary place of business and used exclusively for professional purposes. This means the area shouldn't double as a personal space, like a dining room table where you eat breakfast with your spouse.
Find out what’s eligible to deduct and step-by-step instructions on how to calculate your deduction. Here's what you need to know about the home office deduction →
If you rent dedicated business or storage space for your equipment, the entire cost is typically deductible. This includes:
Monthly rent payments
Utilities for the space
Business insurance for the property
Storage facility rental for equipment and materials
Regardless of where you do business, office equipment and technology for running your business is typically deductible:
Computers, tablets, and monitors
Printers, scanners, and office supplies
Software subscriptions (accounting, scheduling, design)
Business phone service (business percentage of your phone bill)
Desks, chairs, and filing cabinets
Building a landscaping empire typically requires a team, and the payments you make to those team members are typically tax-deductible.
Growing your business often means bringing in help, and those costs are generally deductible.
Subcontractor payments: Whether you're hiring specialized tree services or bringing in extra crew for big jobs, these payments are typically deductible. Just remember to handle your 1099 paperwork correctly.
Seasonal helper wages: Those extra hands during spring cleanup or fall leaf season usually count as legitimate business expenses.
The need for helping hands often extends beyond the work site, too. You need solid financial management, legal protection, and strategic guidance, and investing in these professional services not only helps your business grow but also reduces your tax bill.
Accounting and bookkeeping fees
Legal services (contracts, business formation, dispute resolution)
Business coaching and consulting
Marketing and advertising agencies
Website design and maintenance
Your business faces unique risks, and protecting against them is both smart and generally tax-deductible.
Types of deductible insurance:
General liability insurance premiums
Commercial auto insurance (business percentage)
Workers' compensation insurance
Equipment theft and damage coverage
Professional liability insurance
Health insurance: You can generally deduct self-employed health insurance premiums for you, your spouse, and your dependents. But if you're eligible to participate in a plan through your spouse's employment, this deduction doesn’t apply.
Need coverage guidance? Find out which insurance types are essential and get step-by-step guidance on choosing coverage for your business.* Here's what you need to know about business insurance →
Growing your client base isn't just good business—it's also a tax strategy, since marketing expenses are typically fully deductible.
Website costs: Domain registration, hosting, and professional design are all typically deductible. Your website is your digital storefront—invest in it and deduct it.
Social media advertising: Those boosted Facebook posts showcasing your latest project? Typically deductible. The same goes for Google Ads targeting "landscaping near me" searches.
Email marketing platforms: Services like Mailchimp or Constant Contact for staying in touch with clients.
Online review management: Services that help you monitor and respond to reviews on Google, Yelp, and other platforms.
Business cards and brochures
Vehicle wraps and magnetic signs
Yard signs
Local newspaper and radio advertising
Trade show booth fees and materials
Chamber of Commerce membership dues
Industry association fees
Business networking event costs
Client appreciation events and gifts
The landscaping industry evolves constantly—staying current isn't just smart business; it's a often legitimate tax deduction.
Certification programs: Certified landscape professional credentials, irrigation specialist training, or pesticide application licenses all likely qualify.
Trade conferences and workshops: Registration fees, educational materials, and even related travel expenses are typically deductible.
Online courses: Whether it's business management, new landscaping techniques, or equipment operation training, these could be deductible expenses.
Industry publications: Subscriptions to trade magazines, newsletters, and professional journals could qualify as tax deductions.
Business license renewal fees
Pesticide applicator license costs
Commercial driver's license fees
Professional certification maintenance
When you travel for legitimate business education, you can usually deduct:
Conference registration fees
Transportation costs
Hotel expenses
50% of meal costs during the trip
Running a landscaping business today requires digital tools, and they're all potentially deductible.
Customer relationship management (CRM): Systems for tracking leads, managing client relationships, and following up on estimates.
Job scheduling and routing software: Tools that help you optimize your daily routes and manage multiple crews efficiently.
Invoicing and payment processing: Platforms that make billing easier and help you get paid faster.
Payroll software: Tools to manage payroll and 1099 contractor payments for your employees or seasonal workers.
Accounting software: Bookkeeping software to track all your deductions.
Why pay for (and deduct) multiple software subscriptions when Found's invoicing, bookkeeping, and contractor management tools are free? Skip the required monthly fees** for separate platforms—Found combines everything you need without adding to your deductible expenses.
Landscape design software: Professional programs like Pro Landscape or DynaSCAPE for creating client presentations.
Estimating platforms: Software that helps you calculate material needs and create accurate bids.
Measurement apps: Digital tools for measuring properties and calculating square footage.
Business phone service: The business percentage of your phone bill is deductible.
Internet service: If you work from home, the business portion of your internet bill qualifies.
Cloud storage subscriptions: For backing up client photos, contracts, and business documents.
GPS tracking: Fleet management systems that help you monitor equipment and optimize routes.
Software and technology expenses might not seem like a common business expense for a physical service business like landscapers, but the reality is: these costs add up and can potentially represent substantial tax savings depending on your tax bracket.
Mother Nature doesn't take breaks, but you can usually deduct the costs of dealing with her unpredictability.
Equipment protection: Covers, storage solutions, and weatherproofing supplies for your valuable equipment.
Emergency preparedness: Backup fuel reserves, emergency equipment rentals during peak season, and weather monitoring subscriptions.
Snow removal gear: If you offer winter services, plows, salt spreaders, and snow blowers are all typically deductible.
Holiday services: Lighting installation equipment and decorative materials for seasonal offerings.
Winterization supplies: Materials and tools for preparing irrigation systems and outdoor features for winter.
Tree removal and trimming services (when you subcontract)
Pest control for seasonal infestations
Equipment winterizing and storage services
Seasonal storage facility rentals
Think bigger than basic deductions—these advanced strategies could potentially save significant amounts on your tax bill. But smart tax planning also requires excellent documentation and avoiding common mistakes that trigger IRS attention.
This Section 199A Qualified Business Income Deduction is a significant deduction that many landscapers could miss. If you qualify, you may be able to deduct up to 20% of your qualified business income. For a landscaper with substantial net profit, this could represent significant additional deductions.
Many landscaping businesses start as sole proprietorships or LLCs, but as your income grows, electing S-Corp tax status could potentially save significant amounts in self-employment taxes. With S-Corp status, you pay yourself a reasonable salary (subject to payroll taxes) and take additional profits as distributions (which aren't subject to self-employment tax).
This strategy typically makes sense once your business reaches higher profit levels, though the exact threshold varies by state and situation. Given the complexity and compliance requirements of S-Corp status, it's often a good idea to consult with a CPA to determine if and when this election makes financial sense for your specific situation.
Learn more about LLC vs S-Corp tax strategies and when the switch could make sense for your business.
Self-employed landscapers have access to powerful retirement savings options that could reduce current taxes while building future wealth. SEP-IRAs allow you to deduct up to 25% of your net self-employment income, while Solo 401(k)s offer even higher contribution limits if you qualify.
If you have a qualifying high-deductible health plan, Health Savings Accounts provide a triple tax advantage—deductible contributions, tax-free growth, and tax-free withdrawals for medical expenses.
The IRS doesn't audit guesses; they audit records. Good documentation is the foundation of every legitimate deduction.
Digital receipt storage: Take photos immediately and organize by category. Don't wait until tax season to sort through shoeboxes of crumpled receipts.
Mileage logs: Whether digital or paper, consistency is key. Document every business trip as it happens.
Equipment records: Keep purchase receipts, depreciation schedules, and disposal records for every piece of equipment.
Bank account separation: Use a dedicated business account for all professional expenses. Mixing personal and business transactions creates headaches you don't need.
Even if you're a landscaper, maintaining your own property usually isn't deductible unless you use your home for client meetings or as a business showcase. When dealing with mixed-use items like vehicles or equipment, be conservative and honest about business versus personal use percentages—the IRS expects realistic numbers, not wishful thinking. If you pay family members, ensure the work is legitimate and the wages are reasonable for the actual work performed.
Claiming 100% business use for vehicles or equipment that clearly have personal applications
Round numbers that suggest guessing rather than actual tracking
Deductions that seem excessive relative to your business income
Poor documentation or missing records
When in doubt, err on the side of caution—it's better to miss a small deduction than to deal with an audit. Document everything meticulously, as good records protect legitimate deductions and make tax preparation much easier. Stay current with tax law changes, since what was deductible last year might not be this year, and consider working with a tax professional as your business grows.
You already work hard to build a successful landscaping business. Don't let poor financial management undermine that success by overpaying taxes or missing legitimate deductions.
The landscaping industry involves significant equipment investments, vehicle expenses, and material costs—all of which create tax-saving opportunities. But capturing those opportunities requires organized tracking and smart planning.
Found automatically tracks and categorizes your expenses as you make them—no more hunting down receipts or trying to remember what that Home Depot purchase was for. We'll even help you identify potential write-offs you might have missed, giving you back the time you'd spend on tedious bookkeeping.
Stop paying for multiple subscriptions to manage your money. Found offers all-in-one banking, bookkeeping, and tax tools in one intelligent platform—so you can stop switching between apps and start focusing on your business.
Collect W-9s, send and track payments, generate 1099-NECs at year-end, and handle e-filing—all without per-contractor fees. Pay contractors through ACH, text, or email, whichever works best for them (and for you).
See where you stand financially with real-time tax estimates. Found helps you set aside an estimate for your taxes automatically, so you can focus on growing your business instead of worrying about tax season.
Found gives you a clear picture of where your business stands—without spreadsheets, confusion, or stress. We're like your seasoned financial assistant, with AI tools that can make your workflows even more efficient.
Ready to simplify your business finances and maximize your tax deductions? Get started with Found today and see how much easier managing your landscaping business can be.
The information on this website is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on, for tax advice.
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