Janitors and custodians can decrease the amount they owe in taxes by claiming work related deductions. Those who work for an employer will receive a Form W-2 which documents their wages and withholdings. This form can come from the agency you work for, or the individual to which you provide services.

You are considered to be self-employed if you provide services to anyone who isn’t your employer. This income has to be reported on a Schedule C, Profit and Loss from Business. An example of a self-employed janitor is someone who cleans an office once a week and pays for all supplies used, as well as determining how to perform the work.

Self-employment income of $400 or more is subject to self-employment tax, which may mean you have to make estimated tax payments to cover the amount of income tax assessed to your reported income on Schedule C.

In an effort to reduce the amount of owed taxes, you can claim unreimbursed work-related expenses as a deduction. Janitors who work for a company can deduct expenses as a miscellaneous itemized deduction on a Schedule A when filing taxes. Self-employed taxpayers deduct expenses on Schedule C. It’s recommended that you keep receipts to substantiate al the costs you incur throughout the tax year. You can deduct expenses such as:

• Uniform costs related to cleaning and upkeep as long as the uniform is required and unsuitable for street wear
• Supplies you purchase for work, such as cleaning solutions
• Licensing/bonding fees