If you run a home based business you may be eligible to expense the use of home office space and reduce your tax burden.
Home office telephone deduction. A home office can be a separate room or a space in your house dedicated to business. The home office deduction form is schedule c. Typical indirect expenses include rent mortgage interest utilities insurance and general home repairs. The cost of the first landline phone in your home is considered to be a personal expense so you can t include it in your home office deduction calculation.
The simplified method can make it easier for you to claim the deduction but might not provide you with biggest deduction. If your home office meets these qualifications then you may be able to write off the following items on your taxes. The expense is directly related to earning your income. Generally when using the regular method deductions for a home office are based on the percentage of your home devoted to business use.
Whether you qualify for this deduction is determined each year. Find out about home office tax strategies and the correct ways to write off your home office. Deducting these expenses will help reduce your total taxable income and save you money. Indirect expenses are those paid for running your home which can be deducted based on the percentage of the home used for business see calculating your home office space deduction.
How to deduct your home office without an audit. Deducting a home office is treated differently depending on your business type. Learn some basic tips and strategies that show you how to maximize and write off your home office. However if the phone company charges you for long distance calls you can deduct those charges assuming they were made for your business as a business expense.
So if you use a whole room or part of a room for conducting your business you need to figure out the percentage of your home devoted to your business activities. You spent the money yourself. The home office deduction is not a red flag for an irs audit. Your deduction would be 2 000 meaning that you have just saved 2 000 by claiming a home office expense deduction.
Home office phone internet deductions. For example let s say your total allowable indirect home expenses for your whole home are 20 000 for a specific year and your home office space is 10 of your home for business purposes. Claiming mobile phone internet and home phone expenses. If you use your own phone or internet for work purposes you may be able to claim a deduction if all of the following conditions apply.
But in practice full compliance with the substantiation rules may be difficult.