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Trusted by 12,000+ self-employed pros

Record Episodes for a Living. Your Deductions Should Speak Up Too.

The free bookkeeping tool that helps self-employed podcasters organize ordinary and necessary business expenses for Schedule C.

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Deductions Most Podcasters Miss

Every unclaimed deduction is money left on the table. These podcaster expenses are pre-loaded in your template — you just fill in the amounts.

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Recording Equipment

Line 18

Microphone, audio interface, headphones, pop filter, acoustic foam.

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Editing & Hosting

Line 18

Descript, Hindenburg, Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Riverside.

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Editor & Producers

Line 11

Audio editor, show notes writer, social media manager.

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Sponsorship Fees

Line 10

Ad network commission, Patreon cut (5-12%).

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Promotion

Line 8

Podcast promo swaps, Overcast ads, social media ads.

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Studio

Line 20b

Studio rental, podcast studio, recording space.

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Travel

Line 24a

Podcast conferences, in-person guest recordings.

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Music & Licensing

Line 27

Intro/outro music licensing, transcript services.

The Podcaster's Guide to Schedule C Deductions

If you earn self-employment income as a podcaster, the IRS treats you as a sole proprietor (or single-member LLC) and you report that income on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business. Every ordinary and necessary business expense you track lowers your taxable net profit — which directly reduces both your income tax and your 15.3% self-employment tax. Most podcasters leave money on the table simply because they never recorded the expense in the first place.

Which Schedule C lines matter most for podcasters

Our free podcaster template pre-loads the categories below and maps each one to the correct Schedule C line, so you never have to guess where an expense belongs:

  • Recording Equipment (Line 18): Microphone, audio interface, headphones, pop filter, acoustic foam.
  • Editing & Hosting (Line 18): Descript, Hindenburg, Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Riverside.
  • Editor & Producers (Line 11): Audio editor, show notes writer, social media manager.
  • Sponsorship Fees (Line 10): Ad network commission, Patreon cut (5-12%).
  • Promotion (Line 8): Podcast promo swaps, Overcast ads, social media ads.
  • Studio (Line 20b): Studio rental, podcast studio, recording space.

How to fill out your Schedule C, step by step

Start by entering every deposit you received for podcaster work as gross receipts (Line 1). Then categorize each business expense using the dropdown in the template's transaction tab — the Schedule C Summary tab totals each line automatically. The difference between your income and expenses is your net profit (Line 31), which flows to your Form 1040 and Schedule SE. Keeping these records current also makes it far easier to calculate quarterly estimated taxes and avoid underpayment penalties.

Record-keeping tips for podcasters

The IRS expects you to be able to substantiate every deduction. Keep digital copies of receipts, log business mileage contemporaneously, and keep business and personal spending in separate accounts wherever possible. A few minutes of bookkeeping each week is far less stressful than reconstructing a year of expenses in April.

This guide is educational and does not constitute tax advice. For preparation and IRS representation, our sponsor Arc & Ledger Accounting is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents.

How It Works

1

Download

Pick your business type. Get a free template. No signup.

2

Categorize

Enter your bank transactions. Pick from the dropdown. ~30 min.

3

Review

Schedule C summary auto-calculates your income, expenses, and tax.

4

File

Hand it to your Enrolled Agent. Or let Arc & Ledger prepare your return from $300.

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Don't Have Excel? No Problem.

Download the file → Open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Done. All formulas, dropdowns, and formatting transfer perfectly.

See full Google Sheets instructions →
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Download Your Free Podcaster Template

Every deduction pre-loaded. Works in Excel or Google Sheets. No signup. No email required.

📥 Download for Excel

For Google Sheets: download the file, then open Google Sheets → File → Import → Upload. Full instructions →

Need help filing?

Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents prepare Schedule C returns from $300 — and are authorized to represent you directly before the IRS.

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Want It Done Right?
Hand It to an Expert.

Most CPAs charge $500-800 for a Schedule C return. Arc & Ledger's Enrolled Agents do it from $300 — and they're authorized to represent you directly before the IRS if anything comes up.

Guarantee: Not happy with the quality? Full refund — no questions asked. You keep any work product.
✓ Schedule C tax preparation from $300 (CPAs charge $500-800)
✓ Monthly bookkeeping from $200/mo
✓ S-Corp election & tax planning
✓ Authorized to represent you before the IRS
✓ Enrolled Agents — passed rigorous IRS exam
✓ 10+ years serving self-employed professionals
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Need to File for Free? The IRS Can Help.

If you earned under $84,000, you may qualify for IRS Free File — free tax preparation software provided through an IRS partnership. No cost, no catch.

✓ IRS Free File — guided software for income under $84,000
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Visit IRS Free File Options →

Our free template works alongside any filing method — use it to organize your expenses first, then file however works best for you.

Common Questions

What Schedule C deductions can podcasters claim?+
Self-employed podcasters may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses under IRC Section 162. Commonly claimed deductions include recording equipment (Line 18), editing and hosting software (Line 18), editor payments (Line 11), ad network commissions (Line 10), promotion (Line 8), and studio rental (Line 20b). Your tax situation may vary, so consult a qualified tax professional.
What is Schedule C?+
Schedule C (Form 1040) is the IRS form where sole proprietors report business income and expenses. It calculates your net profit or loss, which flows to your Form 1040. Podcasters use Schedule C to report sponsorship income, ad revenue, and Patreon earnings. Our free template is an organizational tool that categorizes expenses by the correct Schedule C line numbers.
How much tax do self-employed podcasters pay?+
Self-employed podcasters generally pay both income tax and self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) on net profit. Your income tax rate depends on your total taxable income and filing status. The self-employment tax applies to net earnings over $400. All sponsorship, ad, and Patreon income is taxable. Consult a qualified tax professional.
Do I need to file quarterly estimated taxes as a podcaster?+
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more in federal tax for the year, the IRS generally requires quarterly estimated tax payments. Deadlines are typically April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Podcast sponsorship income can fluctuate, so tracking expenses consistently helps estimate quarterly payments more accurately.
Can podcasters deduct microphones and recording equipment?+
Microphones, audio interfaces, headphones, and recording equipment used for your podcast may qualify for Section 179 expensing or may be deducted as office expenses on Line 18. Hosting platform fees (Buzzsprout, Libsyn) are also commonly deducted on Line 18. Consult a qualified tax professional about which method is best for your situation.
Should I hire an Enrolled Agent or do my own taxes?+
An Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax professional who has passed a rigorous IRS exam and is authorized to represent taxpayers directly before the IRS. Unlike other preparers, EAs must pass a rigorous exam and complete continuing education annually. For podcasters with multiple income sources, contractor payments, and equipment costs, an EA can help ensure compliance. Arc & Ledger's team of Enrolled Agents specializes in Schedule C businesses.
Is the Schedule C template really free?+
Yes. Every template on ScheduleC.App is completely free to download, with no signup required. The site is sponsored by Arc & Ledger Accounting, a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents, which is why we can offer the templates at no cost.
Do I need accounting software to use the template?+
No. The template is a spreadsheet that opens in Microsoft Excel or imports directly into Google Sheets (File → Import → Upload). All formulas, dropdown categories, and the Schedule C summary work in both.
When is the Schedule C filing deadline?+
Schedule C is filed with your Form 1040, which is generally due April 15. If you expect to owe $1,000 or more, the IRS also requires quarterly estimated tax payments throughout the year, typically due in April, June, September, and January.
What records do I need to keep for my deductions?+
Keep documentation that substantiates each expense — receipts, invoices, bank and card statements, and a contemporaneous mileage log for vehicle use. The IRS expects you to be able to prove that each deduction was an ordinary and necessary business expense under IRC Section 162.
Can someone prepare my Schedule C for me?+
Yes. Our sponsor, Arc & Ledger Accounting, is a firm of IRS Enrolled Agents authorized to prepare returns and represent taxpayers before the IRS. You can send them your completed template and they handle the filing.

Every Day You Wait, You Risk Missing Deductions

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