The Home Office Deduction

If you use a part of your home for business, perhaps to perform paperwork to store records, inventory, or samples; or even to meet customers you may be able to claim a tax deduction for some of your expenses of maintaining the home.

Now, you may have heard that the home office deduction is either one of the greatest money-savers available to American small business, or that it is a major red flag that will make you audit bait for the IRS.

As a general rule, you should never shy away from taking a deduction you are legally entitled to claim. The same holds true when it comes to the home office deduction. At the same time, we recommend that you keep meticulous records of all your expenses and be prepared to back them up.

There are also those who have dangerous misconceptions about the way the deduction works. Perhaps you have heard about folks who furnish their entire home in rare antiques and write them off as a "business expense." Or people who think the deduction entitles them to pass on the cost of a new stove, billiard table, or Jacuzzi to the government.

Clearing through misconceptions is what this discussion is all about; however, there are also a number of non-tax aspects you may want to consider.

Not one deduction, but many. In reality, when we speak of the home office deduction, we're really talking about a series of smaller deductions. These deductions which may include such items as a portion of utility bills, mortgage interest, repairs, and depreciation are totaled up to get an overall deduction which is reported on IRS Form 8829, Expenses for Business Use of Your Home. This is referred to as the regular method for determining your home office deduction.

The IRS also allows a simplified method as an alternative to the calculation, allocation, and substantiation of actual expenses. To determine your home office deduction under this method, you multiply the 'allowable square footage' for your home office by 'the prescribed rate.' As the name implies, it is a much simpler way to compute your home office deduction. However, it may not be the best method for your situation if the regular method provides you with a greater deduction amount.

Some deductions are available even if you don't qualify. A commonly held misconception is that you need to qualify for the deduction in order to claim any expenses associated with a home or a home-based business. This is simply not true.

For example, home mortgage interest and real estate taxes would be allowed as an itemized deduction on Schedule A of your tax return in any case, even if you can't take a home office deduction. Office supplies, postage, and the cost of bringing a second telephone line into your home for business use may also be deductible. Moreover, you may be able to depreciate the cost of computers and office furniture you buy to use at home, even if you're not allowed to deduct the cost of the office itself.

Having said that, we're ready to discuss the details of the home office deduction and to help you calculate your deduction amount.

• Determine whether you qualify for the deduction. The requirements for claiming the deduction are fairly strict, so review this discussion carefully.
• Research key factors that affect the size of your deduction. You will first need to become familiar with what these factors are. You will then need to collect and organize certain information in order to maximize your benefits under the deduction.
• Review examples of what various types of small business owners may save and in some cases what they may not save by claiming this deduction.
• Claim your deduction(s) on the correct form. There are different forms that you must use to claim a home office deduction depending on whether you are self-employed, or are claiming home office expenses associated with working for someone else. Be sure that you are using the right form.

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