If You're an Employee

Employees can claim home office expenses but the rules are strict. You need to have been required to work from home for more than 50% of the time for at least four consecutive weeks, and you need a signed T2200 form from your employer. Without it, the claim won't survive a CRA review.

Salaried employees can deduct rent, utilities, internet, and basic maintenance for the work-use portion of their home. Commissioned employees can also deduct property taxes and home insurance.

Note: CRA's COVID-era flat rate method ($2/day) was eliminated after the 2022 tax year. You now need receipts and a T2200 to claim home office expenses as an employee.

If You're Self-Employed

Self-employed individuals reporting on T2125 have more flexibility. The space must be your principal place of business or used exclusively for business and regularly for meeting clients. You can deduct the business-use portion of:

The "exclusively" requirement matters — a kitchen table doesn't qualify. A dedicated spare room used only for work does.

If You're Incorporated

The cleanest approach is to have your corporation pay you a home office allowance or rent for use of your home as the principal place of business. This is deductible to the corporation and you can offset the personal income inclusion with your actual home expenses. CRA looks closely at these arrangements — documentation is critical.

How to Calculate the Work-Use Portion

Use square footage — divide your dedicated office space by total home square footage. If your home is 1,500 sq ft and your office is 150 sq ft, your business-use percentage is 10%. Apply that to your eligible expenses.

Common Mistakes

This article is for general informational purposes. Tax rules change frequently and individual circumstances vary. Book a consultation for advice specific to your situation.