Can I deduct a home office if I have recently retired but still use it exclusively for charitable and volunteer work?

[miked47a]

I have income from a pension and SSA

[HelenaC · Accepted solution]

No, you cannot deduct your home office even if you use it exclusively for charitable and volunteer work. You may be able to deduct, as charitable donations, supplies you purchased while doing your charity and volunteer work.

Per IRS Home Office Deduction , You can only deduct the home office if it is used for business. 

To enter charitable donations, click on How do I enter my charitable donations in TurboTax?

For Business Start-Up Costs, see the answer to a previous post:  https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3083176-how-to-list-startup-costs-for-a-business

For additional information, click on https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tools/tax-tips/Small-Business-Taxes/Startup-Business-Tax-Tips/INF277...

[miked47a]

Thank you, but what about if it's a start up home business that hasn't generated any income yet?

[HelenaC]

Per IRS Pub 535 Business Start-Up and Organizational Costs: "Business start-up and organizational costs are generally capital expenditures. However, you can elect to deduct up to $5,000 of business start-up and $5,000 of organizational costs paid or incurred after October 22, 2004. The $5,000 deduction is reduced by the amount your total start-up or organizational costs exceed $50,000. Any remaining costs must be amortized."