WASHINGTON, DC, (February 10, 2014) The IRS has announced a new, simplified method for determining the in-home office deduction that doesn’t require extensive record keeping, and a lot of people are looking forward to giving it a try. Sure, it’s easier than using the time-consuming “actual expense method” to determine the amount you can deduct for the business use of your home, but is it right for you?
Qualified business use of a portion of the home generally means:
• Exclusive and regular use as the main place where you conduct your business, or meet with customers, clients or patients.
• Regular use as a storage area for merchandise you sell, or product samples, if your home is the only place you conduct your business.
• Regular use in providing daycare services for children, the elderly or disabled persons.
The new optional deduction is a simple $5 per square foot of business use up to 300 square feet, for a maximum deduction of $1500. Period. If you choose to use the new simpler option, you can still deduct the full amount of your mortgage interest and property taxes as itemized deductions, without worrying about calculating the percentage based on the business use portion of the home. You won’t have to be concerned with tallying up the direct or indirect costs of utilities, repairs or maintenance expenses, either.
But, don’t be too quick to throw away the calculator until you determine if the simpler deduction is the best one for your situation. Cynthia Jeanguenat, EA, a federally licensed enrolled agent and tax specialist with Horizons Unlimited Tax and Business Services in Virginia Beach, VA is not touting the simplified method to her longtime clients. “We don’t want them to stop keeping track of their expenses! I compare this simplified office-in-home deduction to business vehicle expenses. If a taxpayer keeps good records, and uses their vehicle more than 50 percent for business, then it’s possible the actual vehicle expenses will exceed the standard mileage deduction; but if a taxpayer does not keep records for the maintenance, gas, repairs and insurance, but does record the business miles driven during the year, then they can take the standard cents-per-mile deduction. That may not be the better deduction, but if they don’t keep records, then that may be all they can qualify for.”
Jeanguenat feels the same about the office-in-home deduction of $1500. “If a taxpayer keeps good records, chances are they will get a better deduction using their percentage of actual expenses. If they keep few records, then the $5 per square foot may be their best choice.”
The simplified method took effect January 1, 2013. Taxpayers can elect to use the simplified method or standard method for any tax year. However, once you have elected a method for a tax year, you cannot later change to the other method for that same year. You may, however, use the simplified method for one taxable year and the standard method for a later taxable year. The simplified method doesn’t require you to file the form 8829 needed for the standard deduction. More information on the new home office rules is available on IRS.gov, search for Home Office FAQs.