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Last year I built an office in the back yard. Can I expense the building material I purchased and contractor payments?

The material is insulation, wood paneling, flooring, wiring, and so on for the finishing of a shed that was built by a contractor.
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3 Replies
JillS56
Expert Alumni

Last year I built an office in the back yard. Can I expense the building material I purchased and contractor payments?

No, you cannot expense the materials, but the building you had a contractor build in your backyard for an office would be a fixed asset and would be listed as an asset of the business and then depreciated.   The improvements that you made to finish the building would also be part of the cost of the building and not listed as an expense but as an asset and depreciated.  Home Office   

 

To determine depreciation the issue boils down to is the shed a "structure" or a "building."

 

I could not specifically find a shed for a clothing business in IRS cases, but I did find plenty of them with reference to farms and dog breeding businesses.  If the shed is a structure that is not permanent in nature then you can use the 179 deductions under personal property.   

 

If the shed is a "building" then it is real property and does not qualify for the Section 179 Deduction. Real Property is typically defined as land, buildings, permanent structures, and the components of the permanent structures (including improvements). Other examples of property that would not qualify for the Section 179 Deduction include paved parking areas and fences.

As you can see it depends on the facts of your situation.  If you use the 179, just keep your receipts to show the inexpensive nature of the shed if you ever get audited you can make your case that it's a structure:) 

 

 

 

Last year I built an office in the back yard. Can I expense the building material I purchased and contractor payments?

Thanks for your help Jill!
Just to clarify, I had a contractor build the shell of the office/shed. But I finished wiring, and building out the rest of the structure. Would that fall under Improvements that I made to finish the structure?

And, just to clarify, would this be filed under (Self-employment income and expenses > "choice of business" > Assets > Add Asset to Business Asset Summary> Intangibles, Other property)?

LeonardS
Expert Alumni

Last year I built an office in the back yard. Can I expense the building material I purchased and contractor payments?

The finished wiring and building out the rest of the structure you made can not be deducted as an expense?

The cost of the materials you purchased to finish out the rest of the building will be added to your basis.  You can not include any value for the time you spent finishing the building. 

Yes, those are the steps to follow to add your office/shed as an asset.@plummerdrummer20

 

 

 

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