If you use your home for business you may be able to deduct expenses for the business use of your home.
Home office deduction requirements. This simplified option does not change the criteria for who may claim a home office deduction. If you use part of your home exclusively and regularly for conducting business you may be able to deduct expenses such as mortgage interest insurance utilities repairs and depreciation for that area. Principal place of your business. However you must meet two tax law requirements to qualify for the home office deduction.
If the irs denies your home office deduction you can expect to see other deductions such as auto expense reduced as well. Regular and exclusive use. Regardless of the method chosen there are two basic requirements for your home to qualify as a deduction. You need to figure out the percentage of your home devoted to your business activities utilities repairs and depreciation.
You may use either the simplified method or the regular method to claim your deduction. Before 2018 employees could deduct unreimbursed employee business expenses including the home office deduction if eligible as miscellaneous itemized deductions on schedule a. Regular and exclusive use. For tax years 2018 through 2025 tax reform has eliminated the itemized deduction for employee business expenses.
If you qualify you can claim the deduction whether you rent or own your home. The amount you can deduct for work space in the home expenses is limited to the amount of employment income remaining after all other employment expenses have been deducted. If your office space is in a rented house or apartment where you live deduct the percentage of the rent and any maintenance costs you paid that relate to the work space. Beginning in tax year 2013 returns filed in 2014 taxpayers may use a simplified option when figuring the deduction for business use of their home.
According to irs home office rules home office expenses can only be deducted when a specific area of your home is used regularly and exclusively as your principal place of business however if you use the home office space as a place to meet or deal with patients clients or customers even if it is not your principal place of business you may still qualify to take a home office. Here are six tips that you should know about the home office deduction. Requirements to claim the home office deduction. It merely simplifies the calculation and.
And according to the irs your home can be a house condo or apartment unit or even a mobile home or boat as long as you can cook and sleep there. The home office deduction can save you a substantial amount in taxes. The home office deduction is an essential deduction for real estate agents that helps them maximize their business auto deduction.