The way we work is changing. We need more flexibility in running our business. Nowadays it has become common for people to work from home for at least some time. Sometimes work on promises like weekends, sometimes at night, and sometimes during the day.
In this article, we will discuss tax deductions based on Home Office expenses/work:
- How do I calculate the cost of running a home office/home claim for a tax deduction?
- What Home Office Expenses Can You Apply for a Tax Deduction?
1. How do I calculate my office/home expenses for a tax-free claim?
ATO offers two ways to claim Home Office expenses for tax-exempt benefits:
- Diary and actual maintenance costs
- ATO offers one hour rate.
Important Note: If you would like any information regarding tax deduction, click on Trusted Tax Accountants in Tarneit.
Taxpayers are advised to choose only one route. It depends on which track offers the most cash back.
Original diary and maintenance costs
This way, you’ll need to take note of how many operating costs are associated with working in your home office. The diary should state how much time you spend in the home office compared to other home office clients. Keep a diary for four weeks. After completing a four-week diary, use it as an average to calculate home office deductions for the remaining months.
ATO provided a rate per hour (52 cents or 80 cents)
The fixed-rate method is 52 cents per hour, and in this method, you apply a flat rate of 52 cents per hour on home office expenses. Instead of detailing the actual costs of heating, cooling, lighting, and furniture prices. Record the number of hours you use your home office and multiply it by 52 cents per hour. That way, you can add discounted office supplies (like computers, faxes, etc.), but not furniture. 52 cents per hour applies to the hourly rate for June 2018, up from 45 cents per hour in the previous financial year.
To claim a portion of your work from home expenses, you need to:
Record the number of hours worked at home or agent during the four weeks of the actual income year. The Internet is ideal for making notes that show the percentage of years in which a valuable asset is used. If you log homework hours over four weeks, you will be able to use homework hours for the year with the remaining income for the total number of hours worked from home. You must create a new record.
Suppose you do not have time to work from home for four weeks. Or you don’t have the phone, the internet, and valuable assets to use in your business. In that case, you will need to keep a record of the full year of income.
COVID operates at 80 cents per hour in Home Shortcut mode. That way, you can apply for a deduction of 80 cents per hour from your 2019-20 tax return for every hour worked from home. Between March 1, 2020, and June 30, 2020, and your tax returns 2020-2021, July 2020-21, and June 30, 2021, you: Work from home to perform job duties ۔ It’s not just a matter of checking your email or answering phone calls. But working from home will also cost you extra to manage. There is no need to separate work areas, such as private lessons, for shortcuts.
Summary All deductions include additional operating costs, including:
Electronic lighting, cooling or heating and the work equipment used to operate it may include the cost of electricity (such as your computer) and gas heating to reduce the value of capital goods and cheap capital goods. Expensive, such as home office furniture and decor. You do not have to bear all these costs to use the shortcut method of Rs, but you will have to bear the additional operating costs of some of these categories while working from home.
2. On which items of Home Office expenses can you claim a tax deduction?
Here is a list of home office expenses you can claim. Home Office Expenses and Notes:
- Housing expenses such as rent, mortgage interest, land tax rate, and insurance premium
- Home office equipment is included in the operating costs. Including computers, printers, and phones
- The cost of repairing office furniture and appliances in your home
- Cleaning fee
- Utility bills, computers, stationery, telephone, and internet
Important Note: You can claim the full price. (For items up to 300) or depreciation (for items worth $ 300 or more)
Your ability to claim these costs depends on whether your home is a place of business or a place of business. And if you have a dedicated space for work activities.
If your home is a work area and you have a designated area for work activities. You can claim living expenses and operating expenses. Especially if you work elsewhere or run a business (perhaps in the office) and sometimes work from home, you may not be able to claim your housing costs. Even if you set aside workspace in your home.
