Home Office Deduction: Top Tips

March 19, 2015

home-deduction

Home Office Deduction

Using your home for business may qualify you for additional tax breaks, deducting expenses for the business use of your home.

If you qualify for the deduction, you may use either the simplified method or the regular method to claim your deduction. This tax deduction may be claimed whether you rent or own your home.

Top tips, as told by the IRS

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 A. Regular and Exclusive Use:  As a general rule, you must use a part of your home regularly and exclusively for business purposes. The part of your home used for business must also be:

  • Your principal place of business, or
  • A place where you meet clients or customers in the normal course of business, or
  • A separate structure not attached to your home. Examples could include a garage or a studio


B. Simplified Option:  If you use the simplified option, you multiply the allowable square footage of your office by a rate of $5. The maximum footage allowed is 300 square feet. This option will save you time because it simplifies how you figure and claim the deduction. It will also make it easier for you to keep records. This option does not change the criteria for who may claim a home office deduction.

 C. Regular Method:  If you use the regular method, the home office deduction includes certain costs that you paid for your home. For example, if you rent your home, part of the rent you paid may qualify. If you own your home, part of the mortgage interest, taxes and utilities you paid may qualify. The amount you can deduct usually depends on the percentage of your home used for business.

 D. Deduction Limit:  If your gross income from the business use of your home is less than your expenses, the deduction for some expenses may be limited.

 E. Self-Employed:  If you are self-employed and choose the regular method, use Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, to figure the amount you can deduct. You can claim your deduction using either method on Schedule C, Profit or Loss From Business. See the Schedule C instructions for how to report your deduction.

 F. Employees:  If you are an employee, you must meet additional rules to claim the deduction. For example, your business use must also be for the convenience of your employer. If you qualify, you claim the deduction on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions.

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If you have any questions regarding this potential deduction and would like to discuss it with a WellsColeman professional, please give us a call today!

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