Home Business and Office Tax Deductions

Is your home office a place for business?

If you use your home office exclusively to meet clients or conduct administrative or management activities for your business, it will be considered the principal place of business. These activities must be conducted at your home office and not in any other location. Your earned income cannot exceed the number of your home office deductions. You can carry the non-deductible expenses forward to the next year if they are greater than your earned income. For self-employed persons, Form 8829, Expenses of Business Use of Your House, can be used to deduct home office expenses. Beginning January 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), prohibited employees from deducting home office expenses.

Are there any tax deductions for the home office?

If you own a business, you may be eligible for a tax break. These questions will help determine if you are eligible to deduct expenses related to your business use of the home.

Are you using this area of your home regularly, and only in conjunction with your work or business?

  • Is this your main place of business?
  • Are customers and clients able to meet here?
  • Are these the places you keep product samples?
  • This is where you manage or administer your trade?

You may be eligible to deduct operating and depreciation expenses related to your business use of your home if you answer yes to any of the questions. You might be able to deduct operating expenses and depreciation if you have a separate structure, such as a shed, or store inventory or supplies related to your business in an area of the home.

What is the tax deduction for home offices?

The home office deduction represents the business portion of your total home expenses, including rent, mortgage interest, taxes, utilities and maintenance, as well as any other expenses that are unique to your home office. The deduction amount will be different for each taxpayer depending on their specific circumstances.

How to calculate deductions for home offices using the traditional method

The traditional method of calculating the home office deduction requires that you first calculate how much of your total house square footage is used for office space. The business percentage of your mortgage interest, property taxes, rent, or utilities (if electricity or natural gas was used to heat or cool your house), homeowner’s and association dues, as well as any casualty and theft loss deductions, can be deducted. The business percentage for repairs and maintenance on the entire home can be deducted. You can also claim the total cost of repairs and maintenance that were made to your office space. You may be eligible for depreciation if you own the house. You can report your deduction from the Home Office on Form 8829 (Expenses for Business Uses of Your Home). Any excess of the allowed deduction may be carried forward to the next year and used in the traditional way.

The simplified method to calculate standard deductions for your home office

The simplified method for calculating the Home Office deduction takes less time and requires less recordkeeping. A standard deduction of $5 per square foot of home office space is available to taxpayers. You can only claim a standard deduction of $5 per square foot for home offices up to 300 square feet or $1,500. This method does not allow you to claim depreciation, carryovers of prior years that were not allowed under the traditional method. The simplified Home Office deduction should be reported on Schedule C, Self Employment Income, Page 2.

No matter what method you use, it is important to keep the office separate and that no personal business or entertainment is allowed in the space.

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