Remote work has become increasingly popular. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), roughly one in five workers now conducts business from home for pay. This figure is even higher in certain professions: about one in three people in management, professional, and related occupations work from home.
Does Your Employment Status Affect Tax Deductions?
If you work from a home office, you may wonder whether you can deduct related expenses. The answer depends on your employment status—whether you're an employee or self-employed.
Self-employed individuals or business owners operating from home, including those with home-based side gigs, might be eligible for home office deductions. However, under current federal tax law, employees are not allowed to deduct home office expenses.
To qualify for a home office deduction, you must use part of your home regularly and exclusively for one of two purposes:
As your principal place of business, or
As a space where you meet clients, customers, or patients in the ordinary course of business.
Additionally, you may claim deductions for maintaining a separate structure, such as a garage, used exclusively for business purposes.
It’s important to note that “regular and exclusive use” means the space is consistently used for business. Occasional personal use won’t automatically disqualify the deduction.
Why Employees Don’t Qualify for Deductions
You might ask why employees who work from home aren't currently eligible for tax deductions. Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, employees who itemized deductions could claim home office expenses as a miscellaneous deduction, as long as the arrangement was for their employer’s convenience. However, the Act suspended these deductions for the tax years 2018 through 2025. As a result, employees working remotely don’t receive any tax benefits for home office expenses, while self-employed individuals may still qualify if they meet IRS requirements.
Direct and Indirect Expenses
If you qualify for a home office deduction, you can deduct 100% of direct expenses, as well as a proportionate amount of indirect expenses based on the percentage of your home used for business.
Indirect expenses may include:
Mortgage interest,
Property taxes,
Utilities (electric, gas, water),
Insurance,
Exterior repairs and maintenance, and
Depreciation or rent based on IRS guidelines.
Note: If you itemize deductions, mortgage interest and property taxes may already be deductible. If you claim part of these as home office expenses, you can’t deduct the same amount twice.
Calculating the Deduction
Generally, the percentage of business use is determined by the square footage of your home office. For example, if your home is 3,000 square feet and your office is 300 square feet, you can deduct 10% of your indirect expenses. Other reasonable methods for determining the percentage, such as the number of rooms in your home, may also be used.
The Simplified Method
Tracking indirect expenses can be time-consuming, so some taxpayers opt for the simplified deduction method. Instead of itemizing, you can claim $5 per square foot of office space, up to a maximum of $1,500 per year. While simpler, this method usually results in a smaller deduction.
Selling Your Home
Keep in mind that if you claim home office deductions, you may face tax implications when selling your home. If you sell your primary residence, you can exclude up to $250,000 of capital gains if you’re single ($500,000 for married couples filing jointly). However, you must recapture any depreciation claimed for the home office after May 6, 1997.
If you have questions about home office deductions or the tax impact of selling your home, feel free to reach out for assistance.