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Comment by Nition | Hacker News Reader

I'm not sure about the US but here in New Zealand, even if you just work in a room in your usual home, you can claim that percent of your home's costs in your business expenses.[1] So I definitely wouldn't say you're doing anything immoral tax-wise.

[1] http://www.ird.govt.nz/business-income-tax/expenses/homebus-...

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Yeah it's the same here in Sweden but its much less hassle audit wise to just show a separate unit with the company name on the door than a single room. Or at least, that's what my accountant told me, and the grapevine seemed to agree at the time I looked this up.

Yes, the US has the home business deduction.

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p587/index.html

But most accountants suggest you don't take that deduction since they tend to be audited at a much higher rate.

I'm gonna call a hard citation please on "most accountants don't recommend" you taking a deduction that could get you a boatload of reduced tax liability.

Well I definitely got that recommendation too. His exact advice was that I shouldn't take it unless the office was it's own sealed off room that was NEVER used for ANY other purpose. He certainly scared me out of taking the deduction.

Agree, was told same. The requirements are strict and just not worth the hassle. Hope laws can be updated as working from home is more commonplace nowadays.

That's funny because turbotax always suggests this.

If you're scared about an audit, you shouldn't be in business.

Fear isn't the only reason to avoid one. They're also quite inconvenient.

I think many people use their home offices for other stuff than just work. Maybe it's a spare bedroom for guests or maybe they sometimes place computer games in it. If you get audited, you will have to explain all this. It won't be fun and if the audit doesn't go your way, you are looking at legal trouble.

I've been taking it for 15 years. I've never had a problem.

Same here in Belgium

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