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Oil and gas royalties

Taxable

Is Oil and gas royalties Taxable?

Short answer: Yes: royalties are ordinary income on Schedule E, and you can take a 15% percentage depletion deduction.

Working interests are subject to self-employment tax; royalty interests aren't.

Records to keep: Keep receipts, statements (1098, 1098-T, 1099, W-2G), and a note of what each cost was for. Compare itemizing to the 2026 standard deduction before you claim.