Top Five: Turn Conference Costs into Tax Savings with These 5 Deductions
Andrea Miller
MTNA Business Digest, Volume 5, Issue 1
October 2025
Attending conferences can be one of the best investments you make in your teaching career. Not only do you gain new ideas, skills, and connections, but many of the costs can also be deducted on your taxes. Here are the top five conference-related tax deductions to keep on your radar:
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Conference Registration Fees
Whether it’s a single-day state conference or a multi-day national event, conference registration fees are considered professional development expenses and are fully deductible.
- Travel Costs
If you need to travel to get to the conference, keep track of those costs. Airfare, train tickets, rideshares to and from the airport, and mileage are all deductible. If you drive your own car, check the IRS website for the current standard mileage rate to determine how much you can deduct. (The 2025 standard mileage rate is $.70/mile.)
- Lodging
Hotels, short-term rentals, or other accommodations while attending the event can also qualify. Just make sure the stay is directly connected to the conference. If you tack on extra days for personal travel, those expenses would not qualify.
- Meals While Traveling
You can deduct 50% of your meal costs while away for a conference. Save your receipts from restaurant meals, coffee shops, and even quick grab-and-go food if you’re traveling for business.
- Exhibitor Hall Purchases
Music books and teaching supplies purchased for business use are always tax-deductible, but at conferences, you get an extra perk: many publishers and vendors in the exhibitor hall offer conference-only discounts. Stocking up here means you get the tax deduction, and you save upfront.
A Quick Note on Documentation
Organization is key. Keep receipts, document the business purpose of the trip, and track your mileage. If you’re mixing personal travel with conference travel, only the business-related portion is deductible.
Bottom Line
Conferences don’t just help you grow as a teacher and business owner—they can also give your tax return a little boost. By being proactive and tracking these five deductions, you’ll make the most of your professional development investment.
This article is adapted from Music Studio Startup Episode 162, “Business Travel and Conference Deductions for Music Teachers” with Charles Harris, CPA, and Andrea Miller musicstudiostartup.com/episode162
Andrea Miller is the piano teacher and entrepreneur behind the Music Studio Startup podcast and blog. She talks about all things business and coaches musicians who want to build financially sustainable studios.