{"id":3242,"date":"2018-02-22T11:47:11","date_gmt":"2018-02-22T11:47:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smh.group\/?p=3242"},"modified":"2023-02-15T13:52:53","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T13:52:53","slug":"running-home-office-can-claim-expenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devstagesite.co.uk\/smhgroup\/running-home-office-can-claim-expenses\/","title":{"rendered":"Running a home office \u2013 can you claim on expenses?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As more and more people choose to work from home, the question of how you can reclaim any home office expenses is frequently asked.<\/p>\n

The general HMRC rule for claiming tax relief on business expenses is that you can only reclaim costs that have been \u2018wholly and exclusively\u2019 incurred in connection with your trade. If your personal and business expenses are \u2018mixed\u2019, you can only deduct the business element if it can be separately identified. Typically, HMRC will allow some \u2018home office\u2019 claims as long as they have been calculated on a reasonable basis, and that such claims are not excessive.<\/p>\n

You should therefore take great care when working out your home office expenses, preferably with the help of an accountant.<\/p>\n

Some accountants suggest calculating the proportion of your home used for business purposes (either as a fraction of the total number of rooms, or by floor space), and claiming back that proportion of your general household expenses (e.g. electricity, gas).<\/p>\n

Others suggest only claiming a fixed \u00a33 per week expense to avoid attracting the attention of the tax authorities, unless you have a significant claim to make.<\/p>\n

Potential Pitfalls<\/strong><\/p>\n