Do i need to get a business line to claim my phone on my taxes (if i wok at home)?

Answer 1

It isn't necessary to get a separate business line. However, you will need to track the phone usage for at least 3 months to determine the business % vs. the personal % of your total phone bill.

Do you have your own business, or are you just working at home for your employer?

Answer 2

The first phone line is never deductible accept for long distance charges specifically for business calls.

The general rule of thumb is that, because you would have a home phone whether or not you have a business, the monthly local fees are not deductible regardless of business use percentage.

Answer 3

No, but all the 'extras' have to be necessary for work in order to be deductible. My husband works from home, and his type of work requires alot of long distance calls, conference calls, and no missed calls, along with high speed internet access. So he has a package deal with unlimited long distance, that also provides the other features that he needs. If he didn't require these things for his work, they wouldn't be deductible.

Our home land line is his work number from 9-5 and I have a cell phone to use during those hours for my calls. This keeps business and home separate.

Answer 4

No, you can legally deduct any portion of home expense that you use for business.

If you use your phone 50 % for business, then you can deduct 50% of the cost of the phone line.

If you are in a business that needs to advertise. You'll need to get a business line in order to be listed as that business in the phone book.

Answer 5

I use my home phone for business, and claimed part of it. I was never questioned.

Answer 6

a second line would stop any questioning of use..