[LINK] Work from home and help keep transport gridlock at bay

[Ivan Trundle]

On 11/10/2011, at 10:27 AM, Michael Skeggs mike at bystander.net wrote:

> - My tax accountant suggests claims for operational expenses like a
> percentage of power/heating/phone/internet bills are legitimate
> expenses for me to claim (and do not expose me to a CGT liability on
> my house).

I've been claiming a percentage for some years: but the rules changed two years ago. 

You can claim a percentage of a flat amount as a tax deduction, based on the amount of time you  work from home. This covers power and heating, regardless of how much you consume. It's no longer related to the amount of floor area.

As for internet and phone, they are unrelated: you can claim all or part of the costs of direct business expenses like these, depending upon what proportion each is used for business.

Travel from a home-business to 'work' is not deductible, according to my tax accountant, except under particular circumstances: and peculiarly, they relate to the amount of equipment that you have to transport from A to B (the general principle is that if you have to carry more than one large bag, then it's deductible, since you're unable to use public transport readily - or so the theory goes).

If you're not self-employed, most large corporations demand an OH&S assessment, and also make other demands (which you must formally agree to) in relation to these matters.

Warmly

iT