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BOUNTIFUL — For weeks now, thousands of Utahns have worked from home to help stop the spread of COVID-19. During that time, many have had to buy equipment, supplies and upgrades to power their home workspaces.
Those expenses can add up, but tax experts said you are in for a disappointment if you were expecting to write off the cost on next year’s taxes.
“That is no longer deductible,” said Brian Horne of Affordable Tax & Accounting.
Whether you bought a computer, an ergonomic chair or upgraded your internet to a higher speed to handle all the videoconferencing — employees forced to work from home full-time cannot deduct any of that.
Now, those deductions used to be an option — up until the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted in 2017.
“That is all gone,” explained Horne. “So, as of that tax overhaul in 2018, that used to go on the itemized deductions. It no longer exists.”
It still exists for your boss. He or she can write off your home expenses — if they reimburse you.
“Your employer does not have to reimburse you. They are allowed to reimburse you and if they do, they can write it off,” Horne said.
If you are self-employed, a home office tax deduction is still available, with two big catches. Your home has to be your regular place of business and your workspace in your home has to be set aside for business only — no personal use.
