Are the costs of a coach or mentor tax-deductible?

A mentor or coach can support you with business strategy, professional growth, or specific skills. These costs are tax-deductible, as long as you meet a few reasonable conditions:

• The coaching must be directly related to your professional development. A life coach or personal trainer with no clear link to your work is less likely to be accepted. The tax office typically sees this as a personal expense rather than a business one.
• You need a proper invoice for the service. A clear description of the activities can also help justify the deduction.

⚠️ There’s an important exception: training or coaching that isn’t directly linked to your current profession. For example, career coaching or preparation for a new line of work, is not tax-deductible.

Are coaching or mentoring costs fully deductible?

Yes, coaching expenses are fully deductible from your income tax or corporation tax. If you’re VAT-registered, you can also reclaim the VAT.

However, be careful if coaching sessions include food or drinks. In such cases, the deductibility may be limited to 69%, similar to how restaurant costs are treated.