KathrynG3
Expert Alumni

Business & farm

  1. Regarding the home depreciation as part of the adjusted cost, if I use the simple method and multiply $5 by the square feet of my office, do I add or subtract that amount from the costs for the home to determine the adjusted cost? 
    1. If you used the simplified method, you do not have to recapture the depreciation whatsoever
  2. If the total amount of my deductions do not exceed $27,000, do I need to just use the standard deduction and not itemize? Do I only need to file the short form?
    1. Please see this article about standard deduction v. itemized deductions.
    2. You may be referring to a state option. But, for the federal, the options for 2019 are Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR
  3. Does an energy efficient electrical heat and air conditioner qualify for an energy deduction?
    1. It depends. The credit is limited if you have previously claimed it. Please see these resources for more details:
      1. IRS 2019 Instructions for Form 5996 Residential Energy Credit
      2. Energy Efficient Products
      3. TurboTax quick overview of Energy Tax Credit for Home Improvements