If a business has asked its employees to work from home during the covid 19 pandemic this resembles a formal telework arrangement such as the one that the cra has indicated as requiring an employee to provide a work space above.
Home office expenses during covid 19. Under such an arrangement the employee must provide a work space in her home and incur office space expenses. For more information on what those records are see home office expenses. Claiming expenses for employees working from home during covid 19. As the covid 19 pandemic shifts employees from their offices to their homes many employees are left wondering whether they ll be able to deduct home office expenses from their employment income in their 2020 tax return.
Detailed information on home office expenses can be found on the cra s website. Employers therefore could be required to reimburse employees who are forced to work from home during the covid 19 epidemic for their reasonable and necessary home office expenses which may include a portion of the expenses associated with. Due to the coronavirus covid 19 pandemic millions of employees who ordinarily work at an office or other workplace provided by their employers are now working at home while you can no longer get a tax deduction for work at home expenses here are some other ways you can get reimbursed for these costs including as qualified disaster relief payments. Cell phone or landline.
Hmrc have published guidance for employers to understand which of these expenses are taxable and have confirmed that they can be reported to hmrc through a paye settlement agreement psa where arising as a result of covid 19. It s already taking a toll. But one thing s for sure. In the current covid 19 pandemic as the legislation and guidance is worded if employees are only required to work from home for less than 50 per cent of the year they may not be able to deduct their home office expenses.
The home office deduction is only available to self employed people not employees who use their space regularly and exclusively for business. For more information on working from home visit home office expenses or speak to a registered tax professional. It s too soon to tell just how badly covid 19 will hurt the u s. Full coverage at ctvnews ca coronavirus tracking every case of covid 19 in canada.