Home Office Deduction Calculator
Compare the simplified and actual-expense methods side by side, see which gives you a bigger write-off, and get your Schedule C Line 30 amount.
Your annual home costs
Used for the actual method. Leave blank if you only want the simplified $5/sq ft estimate.
Simplified method
$0
$5/sq ft × 0 sq ft (max $1,500)
Actual method
$0
0.0% of $0 in home costs
The actual method only wins if you track the receipts
Utilities, repairs, insurance — the home costs that make the actual method bigger are easy to lose. ReceiptSync scans each receipt and files it under the right category, so you can prove every dollar.
How the home office deduction works
If you're self-employed and use part of your home regularly and exclusively for work, you can deduct a portion of your home costs on Schedule C, Line 30. There are two ways to figure it, and you can pick whichever gives the bigger number each year.
The simplified method is dead simple: $5 per square foot of office space, up to 300 sq ft, for a maximum of $1,500 — no receipts required. The actual method takes your real home expenses (rent or mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, repairs) and multiplies them by the business-use percentage of your home, filed on Form 8829. Renters and people with higher housing costs often come out ahead with the actual method. For the full walkthrough, see our guide to the home office deduction (Line 30 & Form 8829) and the complete Schedule C expense categories guide.
The catch with the actual method is documentation — it's only worth more if you can back up those home expenses with receipts. Not sure where an expense belongs? Try our Schedule C category checker.
This calculator is general information, not tax advice. Verify current rules and your situation with the IRS or a qualified tax professional.
Frequently asked questions
Who qualifies for the home office deduction?
You need to use part of your home regularly and exclusively for business, and it must generally be your principal place of business. The deduction is for the self-employed (Schedule C). W-2 employees generally cannot claim it on a federal return, even when working from home.
Simplified or actual method — which should I use?
The simplified method is $5 per square foot up to 300 sq ft (max $1,500) — easy, no receipts. The actual method deducts your real home costs times the business-use percentage of your home, which is often larger if you rent or have high housing costs. This calculator shows both so you can pick the bigger number.
Can I take the home office deduction if I rent?
Yes. Renters often do better with the actual method because a share of your rent is deductible. Enter your annual rent (and utilities, insurance, etc.) above to compare it against the simplified $5/sq ft amount.
Does claiming a home office trigger an audit?
That's an old myth. The home office deduction is a legitimate, common deduction for the self-employed. As long as the space is genuinely used regularly and exclusively for business and your numbers are reasonable, claiming it is perfectly fine — just keep records.
What's the most I can deduct?
The simplified method caps at $1,500 (300 sq ft × $5). The actual method has no fixed cap but is limited to your business income and is based on your real expenses and business-use percentage. Homeowners can also include depreciation under the actual method, which this calculator doesn't estimate.
Is this calculator tax advice?
No — it's free general guidance to estimate your home office deduction. Confirm your eligibility and figures with the IRS (Form 8829) or a tax professional.