Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Home Office Deduction - Simplified option

Simplified Option for Home Office Deduction

Beginning in tax year 2013 (returns filed in 2014), taxpayers may use a simplified option when figuring the deduction for business use of their home.  
Note: This simplified option does not change the criteria for who may claim a home office deduction. It merely simplifies the calculation and recordkeeping requirements of the allowable deduction.
Highlights of the simplified option:
  • Standard deduction of $5 per square foot of home used for business (maximum 300 square feet).
  • Allowable home-related itemized deductions claimed in full on Schedule A. (For example: Mortgage interest, real estate taxes).
  • No home depreciation deduction or later recapture of depreciation for the years the simplified option is used.
Comparison of methods
Simplified OptionRegular Method
Deduction for home office use of a portion of a residence allowed only if that portion isexclusively used on a regular basis for business purposesSame
Allowable square footage of home use for business (not to exceed 300 square feet)Percentage of home used for business
Standard $5 per square foot used to determine home business deductionActual expenses determined and records maintained
Home-related itemized deductions claimed in full on Schedule AHome-related itemized deductions apportioned between Schedule A and business schedule (Sch. C or Sch. F)
No depreciation deductionDepreciation deduction for portion of home used for business
No recapture of depreciation upon sale of homeRecapture of depreciation on gain upon sale of home
Deduction cannot exceed gross income from business use of home less business expensesSame
Amount in excess of gross income limitation maynot be carried overAmount in excess of gross income limitation may be carried over
Loss carryover from use of regular method in prior year may not be claimedLoss carryover from use of regular method in prior year may be claimed if gross income test is met in current year
Selecting a Method
  • You may choose to use either the simplified method or the regular method for any taxable year.
  • You choose a method by using that method on your timely filed, original federal income tax return for the taxable year.
  • Once you have chosen a method for a taxable year, you cannot later change to the other method for that same year.
  • If you use the simplified method for one year and use the regular method for any subsequent year, you must calculate the depreciation deduction for the subsequent year using the appropriate optional depreciation table. This is true regardless of whether you used an optional depreciation table for the first year the property was used in business.
Full details on the new option can be found in Revenue Procedure 2013-13.


www.irstaxattorney.com (212) 588-1113 ab@irstaxattorney.com

No comments: