If you had to work from home in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, you might be eligible to claim a deduction of $2 per day on your personal tax return. The maximum amount has increased from $400 per person in 2020 to $500 per person in 2021.
The details of this claim can be complicated. We expect the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to scrutinize these claims more frequently. The team at Clearly Financials would like to clarify how to claim home office expenses and support individuals in our local Edmonton community.
Eligibility Requirements for Claiming WFH Expenses
You worked from home in 2020, 2021 or 2022 due to COVID-19
You worked from home more than 50% of the time, for a period of at least 4 consecutive weeks.
The expenses are used directly in your work during the period.
You were not reimbursed for all of your expenses
Three Methods to Claim WFH (Working from Home) Expenses
1. Temporary Flat Rate Method - $2/day, up to $500
2. Detailed Method – Requires your employer to provide you with form T2200
3. Simplified Detailed Method – Requires your employer to provide you with form T2200S
1. Temporary Flat Rate Method
(Recommended for most people)
The temporary flat rate method is the simplest way to claim WFH expenses. You may claim $2 per day to a maximum of $500 per individual. You cannot claim other office or employment expenses, such as printer ink and stationery, under the flat rate method.
If you alternated between working from home and going to your regular place of employment, you may still claim the $2/day as long as there was a period of 4 consecutive weeks that you worked from home.
Documentation Required for Flat Rate Method
None!
Tip: Multiple people in the same household may claim the full flat rate method if they meet the eligibility requirements.
New Update: The temporary flat rate "simplified" method does not apply to the 2023 tax year. Eligible employees who worked from home in 2023 will be required to use the detailed method to claim home office expenses.
2. Detailed Method
The detailed method of claiming working from home expenses may be familiar to people that have claimed employment expenses in the past. This was available prior to the pandemic and is not new.
Your employer must provide you with form T2200 - Declaration of Conditions of Employment. The form will detail the types of expenses that you had to incur in order to earn employment income. These expenses may include cell phones and motor vehicle expenses.
Download our WFH template from our resources page, and complete the second tab to record your detailed working from home expenses.
Documentation Required for Detailed Method
Form T2200 from your employer
Invoices and receipts for home expenses
Invoices and receipts for other employment expenses
Documents that may be requested by the CRA to support claims under the detailed method:
The layout of your home and of your home office
Cell phone records and a breakdown of personal vs employment use of minutes and data
3. Simplified Detailed Method
There is a simplified, detailed method of claiming employment expenses. The difference is that only working from home expenses may be claimed. Expenses such as motor vehicle expenses may not be claimed. Some employers may prefer to provide this simplified form in order to reduce the amount of paperwork they need to prepare.
Documentation Required for the Detailed Method for Working from Home Expenses Only:
Form T2200S from your employer
Invoices and receipts for home expenses
Documents that may be requested by the CRA to support claims under the detailed method:
The layout of your home and of your home office
Types of Working from Home Expenses
Working from Home Expenses
Eligible Office / Phone Expenses
Other Employment Expenses
Working From Home Expenses
Employees claiming the detailed method may claim the following home expenses.
For salaried and commission employees
Electricity
Heat
Water
Utility portion of condo fees
Home internet access fees
Maintenance and minor repair costs
Home rent
For commission employees only
Home Insurance
Property taxes
Leases of cell phone, computer, laptop etc. that reasonably relate to earning commission income
Cannot be claimed
Mortgage payments
Home internet connection fees
Furniture
Capital expenses (Renovations to the home)
Wall Decorations
Determine the Size of your Home Office
Your work from home expenses are pro-rated based on the amount of space that you use to WFH, compared to the size of your entire home (furnished portion).
Example: If your office is 100 sq. ft. and your home is 1,000 sq. ft. you may claim 10% of your eligible expenses.
The CRA has illustrated examples of how to calculate the size of your Home Work Space on their website.
Shared Space / Common Areas
If the space that you are using is a common area, rather than a dedicated work space, you must further pro-rate the square footage by the number of hours that you work.
Example: If you work for 40 hours per week / 168 hours in a week = 23.8% pro-ration for time.
Continuing the previous example of a 100 sq. ft. workspace in a 1,000 sq. ft. home, you would be entitled to claim only 2.38% (10% * 23.8% ) of your home office expenses.
Tip: If you are using a shared space to WFH, considering using the simplified method.
Eligible Office Supplies
You can claim expenses, or portions of expenses, that you use for work. The item must be used up while directly performing your job. e.g. Paper, pens, ink cartridges.
You cannot claim items that are not used up. e.g. Webcams, microphones, USB keys.
The CRA has a list of common home-office supplies.
Eligible Phone Expenses
You can claim a portion of your basic service plan (minutes and data) as long as the cost of the plan is reasonable and you apportion the cost between employment and personal use.
You cannot claim the purchase price of the phone, accessories, cases, connection fees, or protection plans.
Other Employment Expenses
Your employer must provide you with form T2200 in order for your to claim other employment expenses. Examples of other employment expenses are as follows:
For Salaried or Commissioned Employees
Allowable motor vehicle expenses
Travelling expenses
Parking cost
Supplies
Other expenses
For Commissioned Employees Only
Accounting and legal fees
Advertising and promotion
Food, beverages, and entertainment expenses
Lodging
In Closing
We understand that these are challenging times for many individuals and families in Edmonton. We are working diligently at Clearly Financials to support our local communities through these unprecedented changes.
Realize that you are not alone, that we are in this together and most importantly that there is hope.
For other COVID-19 resources please view our news blog .
Follow us on Facebook for updates.
Disclaimer
This is a summarized version of complex matters that are rapidly changing. The preceding information is provided for general, educational purposes only. Speak with one of our team members if you have any questions about your specific accounting or tax situation.
Clearly Financials offers Smart Accounting and corporate tax services to small businesses in Edmonton, AB. We provide a full suite of services including: Bookkeeping, Payroll, GST filing, Notice to Reader Financial Statements, and Corporate Tax Returns.
We enjoy helping small business owners get set up and hit the ground running. We offer Business Foundation Services which include business plan creation and business structure selection (e.g. to incorporate a business, or operate as a sole-proprietor).
Our Business Performance Management services help small business owners grow their companies, and their profits through goal-setting, budgeting and forecasting.
Our office is located in Old Strathcona in Edmonton, Alberta.
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