Can You Write Off Your Ring Light? A Creator's Guide to Equipment Deductions
It's not glamorous, and it's rarely the thing you think about at tax time. But that ring light is a real business asset.
TallyFox Team
October 13, 2026 • 5 min read
Every creator business starts with the same starter kit of gear. A phone, a tripod, and almost always a ring light. It's not glamorous, and it's rarely the thing you think about at tax time. But that ring light is a real business asset, and the money you spent on it can come back to you as a deduction.
Here's how equipment deductions work, what counts, and how to make sure the gear you already bought is working for your bottom line.
Is a ring light really a business expense?
Yes, as long as you use it to create content for your business. The IRS lets you deduct expenses that are "ordinary and necessary" for your line of work. For a UGC creator, good lighting isn't a luxury. It's the difference between a brand-ready video and one that gets sent back for a reshoot.
Think of a ring light the way a photographer thinks of a lens or a barista thinks of an espresso machine. It's simple, basic equipment that your business can't really run without. That's exactly the kind of purchase the deduction rules were written for.
The key word is business use. If the light lives on your desk and you use it for brand videos, product demos, and client deliverables, it's a business tool. If you mostly use it for video calls with family and occasionally film a TikTok, only the business share counts.
Why does buying a good one matter?
Because cheap gear that fails mid-shoot costs you twice: once when you buy it, and again when you replace it (or redo the shoot). A reliable setup pays for itself in fewer reshoots and more consistent content quality, which is one of the things brands weigh when they decide what to pay you.
You don't need studio equipment to start. A solid, well-reviewed starter option is the EMART 10" Ring Light with 55" Adjustable Tripod Stand & Phone Holder. It's a popular pick with creators because it covers the basics in one kit:
- Adjustable lighting, with multiple color temperatures and brightness levels so you can match warm or cool settings to the product you're filming
- An extendable tripod that works on a desk or the floor
- A rotating phone holder, so you can shoot vertical for Reels and TikTok or horizontal for YouTube without extra accessories
It typically sells for well under $50, which makes it an easy, low-risk first investment. And because it's a business purchase, part of that cost effectively comes back to you at tax time.
How much of the cost can you deduct?
For most creators buying everyday gear, the full purchase price in the year you buy it. The IRS has a "de minimis safe harbor" that lets small businesses deduct items costing $2,500 or less per item right away, instead of spreading the cost over several years. A ring light, tripod, mic, or phone rig usually falls well under that line.
For bigger purchases, like a high-end camera body or a full studio lighting kit, there are other options (including Section 179 and bonus depreciation) that may still let you deduct a large share up front. This is where a tax pro earns their fee, because the best choice depends on your income that year.
One rule of thumb applies to every piece of gear: only the business-use percentage is deductible. If you use your phone 60% for content and 40% personally, you deduct 60% of it.
What other equipment can you write off?
Your ring light is usually just the beginning. Common equipment deductions for UGC creators include:
- Phones and cameras used to shoot content
- Tripods, gimbals, and phone mounts
- Microphones (lavalier, shotgun, or USB)
- Softboxes, LED panels, and backdrops
- Memory cards, external drives, and cloud storage for footage
- Laptops or tablets used for editing
- Props and surfaces used only for product shots
- Subscriptions for content storage and editing
What gear can you deduct at a glance?
| Equipment | Typically deductible? | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Ring light and tripod | Yes, if used for content | Personal use reduces the deductible share |
| Phone | Partially | Deduct only the business-use percentage |
| Camera and lenses | Yes | Larger purchases may follow different timing rules |
| Microphones | Yes | Keep the receipt and note what you filmed with it |
| Editing laptop | Partially | Track business vs. personal use |
| Props and backdrops | Yes | Only items used for content, not home decor |
How do you make sure you don't miss it?
The biggest reason creators lose equipment deductions isn't that they don't qualify. It's that the purchase happened in March, the receipt is buried in an inbox, and by April of next year nobody remembers it.
The fix is to log gear the day you buy it. TallyFox makes that a 30-second habit: snap the receipt, tag it as equipment, and note what you'll use it for. Over the year, it builds a clean record of everything you've invested in your business, and it flags deductions you might not have thought to look for. When tax season comes, your ring light is already on the list.
What should you do with the money you save?
Treat it as fuel for the business. The deduction from this year's gear is a natural way to fund next year's upgrade, whether that's a better mic, a second light, or editing help. Reinvesting in tools that raise your content quality tends to raise your rates too.
And one last reminder: depreciation limits and safe harbor thresholds can change, so check the current rules each tax year rather than assuming last year's numbers still apply.
So, can you write off your ring light?
Your ring light is basic, essential equipment, and the IRS treats it that way. Buy gear that's good enough to rely on, log it the day you buy it, and deduct the business share. Small purchases add up to real found money by the end of the year.
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Sources: product details via Newegg and CNN Underscored; de minimis safe harbor per IRS guidance for small businesses.
