Filing your taxes can be stressful, especially when you need as many deductibles as possible so you owe less tax. If you are a self-employed or a freelance contractor, as a sole proprietor your personal taxes and business taxes are one and the same. Here are some ways your personal expenses can help lower your tax obligation this year.

1. Contributions to Retirement

If you contribute to a 401k or IRA account and your adjusted gross income is under $64,000 filed jointly, you may be eligible for this deduction worth up to $1000. The amount of your deduction will ultimately be based on your income. The lower your income, the higher the deduction will be. You must be over 18 and can’t be a full-time student or dependent on someone else’s tax return.

2. Child Care

If you have children under 13, it’s likely you also have child care expenses so you can work. The child care tax credit can be as much of 35% of your total expenses capped at $6000 for multiple children or $3000 for one child.

3. College Tuition

If you have a student in your home enrolled at least half-time, you could be eligible for a credit. Joint filers must make less than $180,000 while single and head of household will need to be below $90,000. Deductible expenses include tuition, fees, and books.

This credit extends to any continuing education courses you may take for your job, but the education must be received by a participant of the U.S. Department of Education student aid program. This will cover most universities and community vocational schools.

4. Self-Employment

Some of the expenses you incur as part of your self-employment can actually save you money on your business taxes. Deductions include mileage used to attend meetings, make deliveries and other work-related mileage are worth 58 cents per mile.

5. Health Savings

You can contribute up to $3500 for yourself or $7000 for your family in a tax-free HSA health insurance policy. This money can be used for medical expenses any year after it is deposited.

There are multiple deductions that can be taken to lower your obligation on your small business taxes. If you see something here you missed in a previous year, you can amend your return for up to three years after it was filed. Utilizing these five could add up to substantial savings on your return.