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The Daily Insight

Can you deduct housekeeping expenses?

Author

Andrew Mclaughlin

Published Mar 01, 2026

Are Home Cleaning Services Tax Deductible? Yes! You can deduct your home cleaning services cost simply by using the equivalent percentage of your home office to that of your entire home. Even if you only have your entire home office area cleaned, IRS allows you to deduce the entire amount for the cleaning service.

Are cleaning products tax deductible?

General Business Expense Regardless of the type of business you operate, if you rent office space, a factory, a warehouse or a storefront, cleaning is always an ordinary and necessary expense. Whenever you incur cleaning expenses in a business context, the cost is fully deductible.

What can I claim for laundry expenses?

If your laundry expenses are $150 or less, you can claim the amount you incur on laundry without providing written evidence of your laundry expenses. Even if your total claim for work-related expenses is more than $300 including your laundry expenses.

Can You claim the cost of a housekeeper on your taxes?

If your housekeeper provides all of her own cleaning supplies and has a measure of control over how to do the housework, she is not your employee and you do not have to withhold or pay taxes. If you do not own a home-based business, you cannot claim the cost of a housekeeper on your tax return as an expense, even if you are a household employer.

Do you have to pay housekeeper if you are self employed?

In this case, you pay the cleaning service and it pays the housekeeper and takes care of withholding taxes for her. As with a self-employed housekeeper, you aren’t in charge of the schedule for a house cleaner sent by a service. You’re a client, not her boss.

Do you have to pay taxes on dry cleaning fees?

The same is true for optional cleaning fees. If you charge your guests fees for optional laundry services they choose to use, or a fee for arranging dry cleaning for them, for example, these most likely are not subject to lodging taxes.

Can a housekeeper work for a cleaning service?

Contract Service You might also employ a housekeeper who works for a cleaning service. In this case, you pay the cleaning service and it pays the housekeeper and takes care of withholding taxes for her. As with a self-employed housekeeper, you aren’t in charge of the schedule for a house cleaner sent by a service.