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Setting Up a Home Office

Written by a TurboTax Expert • Reviewed by a TurboTax CPAUpdated for Tax Year 2024 • October 17, 2024 3:58 PM
OVERVIEW

Follow these easy steps to set up a home office that complies with IRS requirements. Then, claim your home office deduction with peace of mind.

Key Takeaways

  • Your home office must be the primary area where you conduct your business.
  • If you also work outside of your home, your home office must be the place where you conduct administrative or management tasks.
  • You can use a portion of a room as a home office, but you must make sure the business space is clearly separate from the personal space.
  • You can calculate the percentage of your home that is used for your office and deduct that percentage of qualified home expenses, or you can use the simplified option of deducting $5 per square foot of office space, up to a maximum of 300 square feet.

Step 1: Pick a space

Your home office must be the primary area where your business activities take place.  If you spend most of your time elsewhere, your home office must be the place where you conduct administrative or management chores (assuming you don't make substantial use of any other fixed location to conduct those chores).  Your desk, computer, filing cabinets and shipping area (if you have one) should all be part of your home office space. You can use a portion of a room as a home office but be sure the personal spaces are clearly separate from the business space.

Storing inventory:  If you use areas in your garage, basement or attic as storage space for your inventory, you can add it to your home office space to take the deduction.  You cannot deduct your entire garage, basement or attic if you use only a portion of that space to store inventory.

The solution? Duct tape. You can use it to set the boundaries of the "business" portion of your garage, basement or attic. That way, if you are ever audited, the IRS agent can see clearly where your home office space ends and your personal space begins.

Note: Rarely will an auditor make a home visit. Photographs of your office should suffice.

Step 2: Measure your home office

To take the home office deduction, you should know the square footage of both your entire home (wall to wall) and your home office space.

TurboTax Tip:

Use duct tape to mark the boundaries of the "business" portion of your garage, basement, or attic that you use for business-related storage. That way, if you are ever audited, the IRS agent can see clearly where your home office space ends and your personal space begins.

Step 3: Choose a method

Percentage of your home method:  Calculate your home office percentage. This is a fraction—the numerator (top number) is the square footage of your home office space, while the denominator (bottom number) is the square footage of your entire home (wall to wall).

  • For example, if your home office space is 1,000 square feet, and your entire home is 4,000 square feet, your "home office percentage" is one fourth, or 25%.
  • 1,000 square feet ÷ 4,000 square feet = 0.25 ( x 100 = 25%)

Simplified square footage method:  Beginning with 2013 tax returns, the IRS began a simplified option for claiming the deduction. This new method uses a prescribed rate multiplied the allowable square footage used in the home. The prescribed rate is $5 per square foot with a maximum of 300 square feet.  The space must still be dedicated to the business activity as described above.

  • With the simplified method, if your home office measures 150 square feet, for example, then the deduction would be $750.
  • 150 square feet x $5 per square foot = $750

Note: With either method, the qualification for the home office deduction is made each year. So, you might qualify one year and not the next, or vice versa.

Step 4: Start deducting

If you have a home office, you can deduct your home office percentage from many of your household expenses, such as:

  • mortgage interest
  • property taxes
  • utilities
  • homeowner insurance
  • rent

If you own your home, you will also depreciate the business portion for tax purposes.  In general, you cannot deduct expenses (such as lawn care and gardening) for portions of your home not used for business.

Some special rules

  • You cannot deduct more than the net profit your business makes each year. (But like other operating losses, you usually can carry these forward into future tax years.)
  • You must complete Form 8829 and submit it with your 1040 each year. (TurboTax can help you do that.)
  • If you depreciate your home as part of the home office deduction and then sell your home at a profit, you will have to recapture the depreciation write-offs you took and include them in taxable income.

Step 5: Keep good records

While the home office deduction is typically not an "audit trigger," you do have to keep good records, such as:

  • copies of Form 1098 showing the interest you paid on your mortgage each year
  • property tax bills (and cancelled checks)
  • utility and insurance bills
  • a copy of your lease (if you rent)
  • documentation for any other expenses you deduct

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Business Tax Deadline Guide for 2025When the IRS Classifies Your Business as a HobbyThe Home Office DeductionStarting a BusinessPenalties for Missing the 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC Filing Deadline

The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public; it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business.

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  • Maximum Refund Guarantee / Maximum Tax Savings Guarantee - or Your Money Back - Individual Returns: If you get a larger refund or smaller tax due from another tax preparation method by filing an amended return, we'll refund the applicable TurboTax federal and/or state software license purchase price you paid. This guarantee is good for the lifetime of your personal, individual tax return, which Intuit defines as seven years from the date you filed it with TurboTax Desktop. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business returns. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement for details.

  • Audit Support Guarantee - Individual Returns: If you receive an audit letter from the IRS or State Department of Revenue based on your 2024 TurboTax individual tax return, we will provide one-on-one question-and-answer support with a tax professional, if requested through our Audit Support Center, for audited individual returns filed with TurboTax Desktop for the current 2024 tax year and, for individual, non-business returns, for the past two tax years (2022, 2023). Audit support is informational only. We will not represent you before the IRS or state tax authority or provide legal advice. If we are not able to connect you to one of our tax professionals, we will refund the applicable TurboTax federal and/or state license purchase price you paid. This guarantee is good for the lifetime of your personal, individual tax return, which Intuit defines as seven years from the date you filed it with TurboTax Desktop. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business returns. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement  for details.

  • Satisfaction Guarantee/ 60-Day Money Back Guarantee: If you're not completely satisfied with TurboTax Desktop software, go to refundrequest.intuit.com within 60 days of purchase and follow the process listed to submit a refund request. You must return this product using your license code or order number and dated receipt. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable.

TurboTax Desktop Business Returns:

  • 100% Accurate Calculations Guarantee - Business Returns: If you pay an IRS or state penalty or interest because of a TurboTax calculation error, we'll pay you the penalty and interest. Excludes payment plans. You are responsible for paying any additional tax liability you may owe. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement  for details.

  • Maximum Tax Savings Guarantee - Business Returns: If you get a smaller tax due (or larger business tax refund) from another tax preparation method using the same data, TurboTax will refund the applicable TurboTax Business Desktop license purchase price you paid. Additional terms and limitations apply. See License Agreement  for details.

  • Satisfaction Guarantee/ 60-Day Money Back Guarantee: If you're not completely satisfied with TurboTax Desktop software, go to refundrequest.intuit.com within 60 days of purchase and follow the process listed to submit a refund request. You must return this product using your license code or order number and dated receipt. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable.

TURBOTAX DESKTOP DISCLAIMERS

  • Installation Requirements: Product download, installation and activation requires an Intuit Account and internet connection. Product limited to one account per license code. You must accept the TurboTax License Agreement to use this product. Not for use by paid preparers.

  • TurboTax Desktop Products: Price includes tax preparation and printing of federal tax returns and free federal e-file of up to 5 federal tax returns. Additional fees apply for e-filing state returns. E-file fees may not apply in certain states, check here for details. Savings and price comparison based on anticipated price increase. Software updates and optional online features require internet connection. Desktop add-on products and services purchased are non-refundable.

  • Fastest Refund Possible: Get your tax refund from the IRS as fast as possible by e-filing and choosing to receive your refund by direct deposit. Tax refund time frames will vary. The IRS issues more than 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days.

  • Average Refund Amount: $3,207 is the average refund amount American taxpayers received in the 2024 filing season based upon IRS data as of February 16, 2024 and may not reflect actual refund amount received.

  • TurboTax Technical Support: Customer service and technical support hours and options vary by time of year.

  • Deduct From Your Federal Refund: Individual taxes only. Subject to eligibility requirements. Additional terms apply. A $40 Refund Processing Service fee applies to this payment. method. Prices are subject to change without notice.

  • Data Import: Imports financial data from participating companies; Requires Intuit Account. Quicken and QuickBooks import not available with TurboTax installed on a Mac. Imports from Quicken (2022 and higher) and QuickBooks Desktop (2023 and higher); both Windows only. Quicken import not available for TurboTax Desktop Business. Quicken products provided by Quicken Inc., Quicken import subject to change.

  • Live Tax Advice: Access to tax experts to obtain answers to tax questions and to assist with tax year 2024 return(s) prepared with TurboTax Desktop software. Additional fees apply. Must be purchased and used by October 31, 2025. Excludes TurboTax Desktop Business. See License Agreement for details.

  • Audit Defense: Audit Defense is a third-party add-on service provided, for a fee, by TaxResources, Inc., dba Tax Audit. See Membership Agreements at https://turbotax.intuit.com/corp/softwarelicense/ for service terms and conditions.

All features, services, support, prices, offers, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice.

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