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From IRS.gov:
I use my home for business. Can I deduct the expenses?
To deduct expenses related to the business use of part of your home, you must meet specific requirements. Even then, your deduction may be limited.
Your use of the business part of your home must be:
Exclusive (see *exceptions below),
Regular,
For your trade or business, AND
The business part of your home must be one of the following:
Your principal place of business,
A place where you meet or deal with patients, clients, or customers in the normal course of your trade or business, or
A separate structure (not attached to your home) you use in connection with your trade or business.
Basically, you cannot deduct your entire rent unless your entire property meets the requirements above. If, for example, you only use one room, you can figure the square footage and deduct the percentage of rent that corresponds to the room's percentage of the house, provided the room meets the requirements above. There are also similar rules regarding individual items, such as a television, phone, etc., which allow you to deduct them, provided they are used exclusively for business, not both business and personal.