The answer depends on how you earn your income. If you’re self-employed or run your own business, you likely can. If you’re a W-2 employee working from home, you probably cannot.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 eliminated the home office deduction for employees. Before 2018, W-2 workers could deduct unreimbursed employee expenses including home offices. That’s no longer the case. Even if your employer requires you to work from home full-time, you can’t claim this deduction on your federal return. Idaho follows federal rules here, so there’s no state deduction either.

Self-employed individuals, independent contractors, and business owners can still deduct home office expenses. Two requirements must be met. First, the space needs to be used regularly and exclusively for business. A corner of your living room where you occasionally check email doesn’t count. A dedicated room or clearly defined area used only for work does. Second, it must be your principal place of business or a place where you regularly meet clients. Most home-based businesses satisfy this without difficulty.

You have two ways to calculate the deduction. The simplified method gives you $5 per square foot of office space, up to 300 square feet. That’s a maximum deduction of $1,500 with minimal recordkeeping required. The actual expense method takes more effort but often produces a larger deduction. You calculate the percentage of your home used for business and apply that to your actual housing costs. This includes mortgage interest or rent, utilities, insurance, repairs, and depreciation.

The actual expense method makes sense if your office is large relative to your home or your housing costs run high. The simplified method works well if you value convenience or have a smaller workspace. You can switch methods from year to year based on what benefits you most.

One concern we hear often is that claiming a home office triggers an audit. That’s a myth. The IRS looks for patterns and inconsistencies, not specific deductions. A legitimate home office with proper documentation is straightforward. Our Nampa tax services team handles this deduction for clients regularly.

Keep good records either way. Measure your office space and document it. If using actual expenses, track your housing costs and save receipts. Take a photo of your workspace setup. If questions ever arise, documentation makes the difference between an easy resolution and a drawn-out process.

For help identifying all the deductions you qualify for, including home office, our business tax preparation services ensure nothing gets missed. The right deductions can make a meaningful difference in what you owe.