One of the questions we are getting the most right now is regarding what those who have been forced by their business or company to work at home can deduct. The truth is if you are an employee working from home as the tax law currently stands, deductions for employee business expenses are no longer allowed.
Employees should speak to their employers about the possibility of being reimbursed for business related expenses; reimbursements would be deductible to the employer and not taxable to the receiving employee. Reimbursements can include things like internet service fees, office supplies, cell phone fees, and even business use of auto. Employers can also provide things like funds to purchase computers, printers and software and deduct them while excluding the payments under code section 139. Disaster Relief Payment also allows the payment of certain other expenses for employees due to a presidentially declared disaster, like COVID-19. These include reimbursement or payment of reasonable and necessary personal, family, living, or funeral expenses incurred as a result of a qualified disaster, but only to the extent any expense compensated by such payment is not otherwise compensated for by insurance or otherwise.
Those that are self-employed may deduct all ordinary and necessary expenses related to the operation of their self-employed business and of those of working from home. If you are a shareholder and employee of a S or regular corporation, the corporation can use the reimbursement rules stated above to reimburse you and any other employees it designates necessary to the ongoing operations of its business and to deduct those reimbursement.