topic I have a home office. Have deducted for utilities, etc. Can I deduct for major overall home improvements (landscaping whole house generator) paid for in 2020? in Deductions & credits

I have a home office. Have deducted for utilities, etc. Can I deduct for major overall home improvements (landscaping whole house generator) paid for in 2020?

Bill_C — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 21:51:49 GMT

I have a home business and can deduct for home office @ 6% of square footage. Have deducted for utilities, etc. Can I deduct for major overall home improvements (landscaping whole house generator) purchased / paid for in 2020 as part of my business expenses?

Re: I have a home office. Have deducted for utilities, etc. Can I deduct for major overall home i...

ColeenD3 — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 22:13:25 GMT

In general, yes. In regards to landscaping, the IRS determines it to be unrelated and it is not deductible.

Unrelated

Expenses only for the parts of your home not used for business.

Not deductible.

Examples: Lawn care or painting a room not used.

Pub 587

Re: I have a home office. Have deducted for utilities, etc. Can I deduct for major overall home i...

Bill_C — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 21:45:44 GMT

I am asking again for verification because I had also posted the same question in another website and a (supposed) tax expert told me that 'yes', I could claim / include both my landscaping and my whole house natural gas emergency generator as part of my 6% home office space deduction.
And then they doubled-down on that when I asked for verification.
Again, the situation: I have a home business office that I can deduct 6% of my associated home expenses. I made 2 major home improvements in 2020 -- 1 was a major landscape upgrade and another was the purchase and install of a whole house generator that will automatically turn of when I lose power to my home. (I live in Florida and it sometimes happens with hurricanes).

Thanks.

Re: I have a home office. Have deducted for utilities, etc. Can I deduct for major overall home i...

JohnB5677 — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 13:21:00 GMT

The question of landscaping is controversial.

The US Tax Court has allowed landscaping costs as part of the home-office deduction in limited cases where the taxpayer used his home as his sole office and his clients regularly came to his home to conduct business. If that's your situation, you may claim landscaping as part of your deduction. Otherwise, it's not advisable.

However, the generator can be deducted based on the allocated square footage of the office to the total home.

Re: I have a home office. Have deducted for utilities, etc. Can I deduct for major overall home i...

Bill_C — Sun, 11 Apr 2021 18:16:00 GMT

Thank you. That sounds logical and reasonable. I was not feeling so well about even claiming the landscape expense.