MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC

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Tag: home office

Tax Deductions for Working at Home

The global pandemic of 2020 pushed many businesses to allow their employees to work from home. Many companies look for postponements, cancellations, potentially staff illness, and lockdowns during these difficult times. Many people are looking for tax deductions for working at home. However, getting the tax break is not as simple as it may seem. Here’s some information to consider before trying to get a tax deduction for working at home.

Self-Employed Taxpayers and Independent Contractors

            According to Barbara Weltman, the owner of Big Ideas for Small Business, she states, “If you’re an employee filing taxes between 2018 and 2025, you cannot claim the deduction.” The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act says that an employee cannot include unreimbursed business expenses if they worked from home at their employee’s convenience. However, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) claims that self-employed taxpayers and independent contractors are entitled to the deduction. Additionally, individuals earning money in a gig economy can potentially claim the credit, such as a person who is an employee and a gig worker on the side. Many states such as Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York, and Pennsylvania will let employees take deductions on home office expenses.

Eligible Individuals

            As explained by the IRS, individuals who are exclusively and regularly using their home as a place of business can receive the tax deduction. Unfortunately, a spare bedroom or detached garage used only a few times throughout the year may not fit in exclusive and regular quota. It is important to understand that an audit’s stresses do not compare to the benefits of a deduction. The best thing to do is take a picture of the workspace to present evidence to the IRS.

Two Types of Deduction

            There are two types of tax deductions that an individual may receive depending upon a few elements. Firstly, there is a simplified method that offers a deduction of $1,500 to taxpayers. It requires filling out a Schedule C document, which asks the total square footage of a home and the space being used as a business inside the house.  The IRS will conduct an equation of $5 per square foot, making a home office space of 300 square feet have a tax break. Schedule C’s benefit is that a tax filer does not have to keep evidence of home office expenses.

The other tax deduction can be a tremendous tax saver for people who have been working from home for a long time. IRS Form 8829 is where you show your math in claiming the deduction by adding business expenses like rent, utilities, renters’ insurance, and improvements to space. Some self-employed taxpayers may be losing money by choosing the simplified method.

Conclusion

            Receiving a tax deduction is always a great way to save money. However, there are some specific requirements that people working from home need to meet. Also, taxpayers who are patient can find themselves with more money in their pockets. For more useful information, you can contact MARIELA RUIZ, CPA, PLLC. We specialize in all helping individuals and businesses financially thrive. For many years we have offered various services, including forensic accounting, tax services, financial consulting, bookkeeping, and much more. Our many years of experience ensure that you’re in good hands. Visit our website to contact us today!

How to Minimize Your Chance of an Audit

Tax season is upon us. Whether you intend on getting money back from the government or paying in, every citizen is at risk of being audited if the IRS is tipped off by discrepancies or other suspect information on your tax return. Read the following tips to learn how to avoid an audit this tax season.

Inaccurate Donated Amounts

The IRS encourages individuals to donate clothes, food and even used cars to charities. It does this by offering a deduction in return for a donation. The problem is that it is up to the individual owner to determine the value of the item. As a general rule, the IRS likes to see individuals value the items they donate anywhere between 1% and 30% of the original price. Unfortunately, many taxpayers ignore this guideline or simply aren’t aware of it.

There are several other ways that the taxpayer can ensure that they are valuing donated goods at an equitable price.  One of the ways is hiring an appraiser to write a letter, naming their opinion on the worth of the item.

Simple and Avoidable Math Errors

Many returns are selected for audit due to basic mathematical mistakes. When filling out your tax return (or double-checking your accountant’s work) make sure that the numbers add up. Also, make sure that the total dollar value of and/or losses are properly calculated. Even the smallest errors can alarm the IRS.

Failure to Sign

A surprisingly large number of people simply forget to sign their tax returns. Don’t be a part of this group. Failure to sign the return will almost guarantee additional examination because the IRS will wonder what else you might have forgotten to include in your records.

Under-Reported Income

It is vitally important that you report all income that you received throughout the year from work and/or from the sale of an asset. If you fail to report income and get caught, you will be forced to pay back-taxes plus penalties. While it may be tempting to not report some income, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Home Office Deductions

Be careful with home office deductions. Deductions that are too large in proportion to your income can raise a huge red flag. For example, if you earned money as an accountant working from home, extravagant home-office related deductions will raise the ire of the IRS.  Deduct only items that were used in the course of your business.

Conclusion

When it’s time to file your annual taxes, make sure you cover all your bases to avoid scrutiny from the government. While there is less than a 1% chance you will be chosen for an audit, there’s no reason to not take every precaution just to be safe. For exemplary accounting services and tax services you can trust, contact the experts at Mariela Ruiz, CPA, PLLC.