Yes, It is a legitimate business expense but can be a red flag due to the potential for disabuse. Keep good records, and you'll have nothing to worry about. You shouldn't let fear of the IRS prevent you from claiming something you are entitled to.
If you're self-employed, however, housing-related expenses such as mortgage interest, rent, utilities, repairs, and depreciation for the portion of your home or rental that you use to run your business are allowable expenses under the home office deduction.
You may be able to claim the home office deduction if your office is:
When you enter your home office information in TurboTax, we'll ask some questions to determine if you can claim the deduction and how much the deduction is worth. You’ll need information like the square footage of your residence and the rooms you worked in.
