Social Media Manager

Tax guide for New Zealand freelance social media managers and strategists

Allowable Expenses

• Social media tools — Hootsuite, Buffer, Later, Sprout Social subscriptions
• Design software — Canva Pro, Adobe Spark, design tool subscriptions
• Advertising spend — If managed on behalf of clients and billed through — net off
• Home office — NZ$5/week flat rate or actual proportion
• Professional development — Social media certifications, platform courses

Tax Tips

• Social media scheduling tool subscriptions are 100% deductible business expenses
• Be careful with client advertising spend — it's generally a pass-through, not your own expense
• Free platform certifications (Meta Blueprint, Google Ads) are free — claim paid courses
• Keep a separate business bank account to make it easy to track client retainers and tool costs for your IR3

Frequently Asked Questions

Can NZ social media managers claim their own social media subscriptions?

Only if the subscription is used for business purposes (managing client accounts or learning). Personal social media use is not deductible. Pro plans used specifically for client management are fully deductible.

Are scheduling and analytics tool subscriptions deductible for NZ social media managers?

Yes. Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, and Later used for managing client accounts are fully deductible business software subscriptions in the year they are charged.

Can NZ social media managers claim courses on digital marketing?

Yes. Paid courses, webinars, and certifications that maintain or improve your social media skills — Meta Blueprint, HubSpot Academy paid courses, Google Ads certifications — are deductible professional development costs.

How do NZ social media managers handle retainer income for tax?

Monthly retainer fees are taxable income in the month they are received. Include them in your IR3 for the year they were received. Track retainer contracts and invoices carefully so your income records match payments received.