You're a business now — act like one
The moment signing service and escrow payments lands on a 1099, the IRS puts you in the same category as any small business owner. That means self-employment tax, quarterly estimated payments — and the upside: you can deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses against what you earn.
Most signing agents don't think of themselves as businesses, so they don't keep business records. Between signings, closings, and printing, the costs pile up quietly — and the ones that never get recorded never get deducted.
The deductions most signing agents can claim
1. Mileage — the dominant deduction
Signings mean constant driving to title offices and client homes. A contemporaneous log is what separates agents who keep the deduction from agents who lose it.
2. Printing, scanning, and supplies
Paper, toner, and courier supplies for document packages.
3. Journals, stamps, and seals
Required notarial equipment.
4. E&O insurance
Signing agents carry errors-and-omissions coverage — deductible.
5. Certifications and background checks
NSA certification, annual background screenings, and commission renewals.
6. Association dues
NNA membership and signing-service platform fees.
What the IRS actually wants to see
Deductions aren't denied because they weren't real — they're denied because they weren't documented. The standard: a receipt or bank record for expenses, a mileage log with business purpose, and records made close to when the expense happened. A mileage log kept as it happens is worth far more than one reconstructed in April — the IRS knows the difference.
That's the workflow DeductionDog was built around: capture receipts by photo or by scanning your email, log drives automatically, then export the year as an accountant-ready package — every item mapped to its Schedule C line.
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WatchThe 1099 Problem
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DeductionDog provides record-keeping software, not tax advice. Deduction eligibility depends on your specific facts — when in doubt, talk to a qualified tax professional.