Small business owners who work from home could save money on their taxes by taking the home office deduction, as long as they meet the requirements set forth by the IRS. There are two methods to choose from when considering your home office deduction: the actual expenses method and the simplified method.

Basics of the Deduction

In general, you’ll qualify for a home office deduction if part of your home is used “regularly and exclusively” as your principal place of business.

If your home isn’t your principal place of business, you may still be able to deduct home office expenses if 1) you physically meet with patients, clients or customers on your premises or 2) you use a storage area in your home (or a separate free-standing structure, such as a garage) exclusively and regularly for your business.

Actual Expenses

Traditionally, taxpayers have deducted actual expenses when they claim a home office deduction. Deductible home office expenses may include:

• Direct expenses, such as the cost of painting and carpeting a room used exclusively for business,
• A proportionate share of indirect expenses, such as mortgage interest, property taxes, utilities, repairs and insurance, and
• A depreciation allowance.

But keeping track of actual expenses can be time-consuming.

The Simplified Method

Fortunately, there’s a simplified method that’s been available since 2013: You can deduct $5 for each square foot of home office space, up to a maximum total of $1,500.

For example, if you’ve converted a 300-square-foot bedroom to an office you use exclusively and regularly for business, you can write off $1,500 under the simplified method (300 square feet x $5). However, if your business is located in a 600-square-foot finished basement, the deduction will still be only $1,500 because of the cap on the deduction under this method.

As you can see, the cap can make the simplified method less beneficial for larger home office spaces. But even for spaces of 300 square feet or less, taxpayers may qualify for a bigger deduction using the actual expense method. So, tracking your actual expenses can be worth the extra hassle.

Flexibility in Filing

When claiming the home office deduction, you’re not locked into a particular method. For instance, you might choose the actual expense method on your return filed this year, use the simplified method when you file your return next year, and then switch back to the actual expense method thereafter. The choice is yours.

Wondering if you can benefit from this deduction? Please contact your local Blue & Co. advisor if you have any questions or to determine if this is the right fit for you and your business.