Submitted By: Steve
Answered: September 17, 2013 8:30 am

I am self-employed and use one portion of my home as an office. My wife is also self-employed and uses a different part of the home as her office. Can we each claim a home office deduction?

Yes, assuming you each meet the eligibility tests for the home office deduction. Each of you would need to complete a separate Form 8829 and attach it to your separate Schedule Cs if you figure the deduction for 2013 using the actual expense method. Alternatively, if you each qualify for a home office deduction, both of you can use the new simplified method for your respective home offices, which is multiplying your square footage (up to 300 square feet) by $5.

advertisement
Tax Glossary

Legally separated

A husband and wife who are required to live apart from each other by the terms of a decree of separate maintenance. Payments under the decree are deductible by the payor and taxable to the payee as alimony.

More terms