What I check on every return
- Every credit you qualify for checked, including the Earned Income Credit and Child Tax Credit
- Mowers, trailers and trucks depreciated or written off in full
- Fuel for equipment kept separate from vehicle costs
- Helper payments documented, with 1099s when required
- Texas sales tax on lawn care checked
Deductions landscapers often miss
- Mowers, edgers, blowers, trimmers and trailers
- Fuel, oil and blades for equipment (separate from your truck)
- Truck costs: mileage or actual expenses
- Mulch, plants, sod and materials billed to clients
- Dump and disposal fees
- Repairs, sharpening and small tools
Houston and Texas rules that apply to you
- Sales tax: lawn care and landscaping are taxable "real property services" in Texas, for homes and businesses. You generally need a free sales tax permit and must charge 8.25% in Houston. Many lawn businesses miss this; catching it early avoids back tax and penalties.
- Business equipment tax (Harris, Fort Bend and other appraisal districts): starting in 2026, Texas exempts the first $125,000 of business personal property, up from $2,500. If your equipment is worth more, the rendition is due to your appraisal district (HCAD in Harris County) by April 15. Below that, check your district's 2026 instructions, since some ask for a one-time filing to confirm the exemption.
- No Texas income tax: your return is federal only, but self-employment tax (15.3% for Social Security and Medicare) applies once your net self-employment income reaches $400.
New for 2026 returns (filed in 2027)
- No tax on tips: home landscaping and groundskeeping workers are on Treasury's list of tipped occupations, so reported tips can be deducted, up to $25,000 a year (2025 through 2028). For self-employed workers the deduction can't exceed your net profit from that work, and it phases out above $150,000 of income ($300,000 married filing jointly).
- Equipment write-offs: 100% bonus depreciation is back for equipment bought after January 19, 2025, so a qualifying tool, trailer or vehicle can often be deducted in the year you buy it.
- 1099 forms: clients and companies now send a 1099-NEC only when they pay you $2,000 or more in 2026 (it was $600). Payment apps send a 1099-K only above $20,000 and 200 payments. All of your income is still taxable, form or no form.
What to bring
- Bank, Zelle and card statements for the year
- Receipts for equipment bought or sold, with dates
- Fuel, repair and material receipts
- Truck mileage or expenses
- Names, amounts and W-9s for helpers you paid
Common questions
Can I deduct a new zero-turn mower all at once?
Usually, yes. With 100% bonus depreciation back, equipment you put to work in 2026 can often be deducted in full that year. Sometimes spreading it out saves more; I compare both.
Do I really have to charge sales tax on mowing?
In Texas, generally yes. Lawn and yard maintenance is a taxable service. If you haven't been collecting it, talk to me before the Comptroller contacts you; there are ways to get current.
Where I work
I'm based in Houston and work with clients across Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery and Brazoria counties, including Pasadena, Pearland, Sugar Land, Missouri City, Katy, Cypress, Spring, Humble, Baytown and The Woodlands. Meet in person in Houston or do everything online, in English, Spanish or Portuguese. I also work by video with clients in Beaumont & Port Arthur, Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill & Lancaster.
Get a flat-fee quote before I start
Book a free 15-minute call. I'll tell you what your return needs and what it costs. Fees are never a percentage of your refund.
Book a free callSee typical pricesOfficial sources: Texas Comptroller: real property services ↗ · Fort Bend CAD: 2026 business property exemption ↗ · IRS: Self-Employed Tax Center ↗
Updated October 2026 for 2026 returns filed in 2027. General information only, not tax advice for your situation. Rules and amounts can change; your situation is confirmed when your return is prepared.
Other trades I help: