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Ash1218
New Member

Can I claim installation/materials of new roof on my home office? I am an employee of a company, I do not own the company.

Can I claim installation/materials of new roof on my home office? I am an employee of a company, I do not own the company.

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JulieH1
New Member

Can I claim installation/materials of new roof on my home office? I am an employee of a company, I do not own the company.

Yes, if you are sure you meet the qualifications for a home office of an employee (listed below) then you can deduct expenses as an indirect expense which is limited to the percentage of the home you use for your home office.

An indirect expense is a payment for something that benefits your entire home, including both the home office portion and your personal space. You may deduct only a portion of this expense—the home office percentage of the total.

Example: Jean pays $1,000 to repair the roof on her home. This is an indirect expense because it benefits her entire home. She may deduct her home office percentage of the expense. She uses 15% of her home as an office so she may deduct 15% of the cost, or $150.

Home Office Deduction Requirements

If you have a home office, you might qualify to claim a home office deduction. This means you can deduct expenses for the business use of your home. To do so, both of these must apply:

  • You use the business part of your home exclusively and regularly for trade or business purposes. These uses of your home don’t qualify:
    • Voluntary
    • Occasional
    • Incidental
  • The business part of your home must be one of these:
    • Your main place of business
    • Place where you meet or deal with patients, clients, or customers in the normal course of your trade or business
    • Separate structure — not attached to the home — that you use in connection with your trade or business

Employee home office
If you work for someone else as an employee, you can deduct home office expenses. However, all of these must apply:

  • You meet the home office requirements (listed above).
  • The business use of the home is for the employer’s convenience. Factors determining convenience include:
    • You’re required to maintain the home office as a condition of employment.
    • The functioning of the employer’s business isn’t possible without your home office.
    • You can’t perform duties properly without the home office.
    • The employer doesn’t provide a space for you to work outside your home office.
    • The employer requires you to provide your own space.
  • You don’t rent any part of your home to your employer and use the rented portion to perform services as an employee.

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1 Reply
JulieH1
New Member

Can I claim installation/materials of new roof on my home office? I am an employee of a company, I do not own the company.

Yes, if you are sure you meet the qualifications for a home office of an employee (listed below) then you can deduct expenses as an indirect expense which is limited to the percentage of the home you use for your home office.

An indirect expense is a payment for something that benefits your entire home, including both the home office portion and your personal space. You may deduct only a portion of this expense—the home office percentage of the total.

Example: Jean pays $1,000 to repair the roof on her home. This is an indirect expense because it benefits her entire home. She may deduct her home office percentage of the expense. She uses 15% of her home as an office so she may deduct 15% of the cost, or $150.

Home Office Deduction Requirements

If you have a home office, you might qualify to claim a home office deduction. This means you can deduct expenses for the business use of your home. To do so, both of these must apply:

  • You use the business part of your home exclusively and regularly for trade or business purposes. These uses of your home don’t qualify:
    • Voluntary
    • Occasional
    • Incidental
  • The business part of your home must be one of these:
    • Your main place of business
    • Place where you meet or deal with patients, clients, or customers in the normal course of your trade or business
    • Separate structure — not attached to the home — that you use in connection with your trade or business

Employee home office
If you work for someone else as an employee, you can deduct home office expenses. However, all of these must apply:

  • You meet the home office requirements (listed above).
  • The business use of the home is for the employer’s convenience. Factors determining convenience include:
    • You’re required to maintain the home office as a condition of employment.
    • The functioning of the employer’s business isn’t possible without your home office.
    • You can’t perform duties properly without the home office.
    • The employer doesn’t provide a space for you to work outside your home office.
    • The employer requires you to provide your own space.
  • You don’t rent any part of your home to your employer and use the rented portion to perform services as an employee.
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