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

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.