# Tax Deductions – What’s Legit & What’s a Stretch?

Author Tina FeynoldsCategory[Career & Skills Development](https://jobicy.com/question-category/work.md)Rating 👍 231 / 👎 121Asked on5 Dec 2024Last active10 Jun 2026Answers16 [Answer](#answer-form-container)

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## Description:

Hey everyone, gearing up for tax season and wondering what home office expenses people are actually claiming when working remotely full-time. My accountant is a bit vague. Can I claim a portion of my internet? What about that fancy ergonomic mouse? Spil the beans! 🧾

### 16 Answers

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![CaffeineFiend_99](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=CaffeineFiend_99&background=random&size=42)
CaffeineFiend_99 [12 Dec 2024](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-153.md)

Copy answer link Report answerCoffee.i tried to claim coffee.they laughed. dont claim coffee.

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Tina Feynolds: Thanks for the heads-up! What about coffee for business meetings—still a no-go? Report
CaffeineFiend_99: Hi Tina! Coffee is generally fine for business meetings, just avoid anything too strong or sugary to keep things professional and focused. Report

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![Anonymous](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Anonymous&background=random&size=42)
Anonymous [28 Jun 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-938.md)    Copy answer link Report answerIf you’re self-employed and have a qualifying home office you can deduct the business-use portion of internet, utilities, and office gear, but rules demand clear documentation and either the simplified or actual-expense method. For W-2 employees, federal tax law mostly disallows unreimbursed employee expense deductions since 2018, so check state rules or ask your employer about reimbursements. If you’re self-employed, allocate internet by percent of business use (time or bandwidth), and treat an ergonomic mouse as equipment—expensed if cheap, depreciated or Section 179-eligible if costly; keep invoices. Can you claim “fancy” items? Yes, if ordinary and necessary for the job and primarily used for business. Practical steps: measure space, log usage, keep receipts, ask your accountant about capitalization thresholds. Oddly enough, documentation wins. A little clunky, but worth it.

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![Artemis](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Artemis&background=random&size=42)
Artemis [7 Dec 2024](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-150.md)    Copy answer link Report answerDefinetly a portion of your utilities if you have a dedicated office space! Check the sq footage rules. Internet is usually a yes. That mouse? Mmmaybe, if you can prove its solely for work. Good luck! 👍

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![Sarah J.](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Sarah+J.&background=random&size=42)
Sarah J. [8 Dec 2024](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-151.md)    Copy answer link Report answeri claimed my new standing desk converter and a new webcam last year, no issues. My tax guy said as long as it's 'ordinary and necessary' for your job. Keep receipts for EVERYTHING. Seriously.

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J. S.: Interesting how "ordinary and necessary" is the magic phrase they use to keep us in line. Ever wonder if this system subtly trains us to accept blurred lines between personal and professional expenses, shaping our whole idea of "work"? Report
Sarah J.: Absolutely, it’s like the language itself sets the boundaries—and sometimes those boundaries shift without us even realizing it. Makes you think about how much our work culture is influenced by these small phrases. Report

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![InsuranceInsider_Greg](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=InsuranceInsider_Greg&background=random&size=42)
InsuranceInsider_Greg [10 Dec 2024](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-152.md)    Copy answer link Report answerBe careful with home insurance — many standard policies aren't designed to cover home-based business activities, and that includes not just full-on businesses but even remote work as a regular employee. If you're working from home (WFH), your insurer might expect you to declare it, especially if you're using specialized equipment, hosting clients, or storing inventory. Some policies explicitly exclude business-related claims unless you've updated your coverage 🤕

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![Mateo Collins](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Mateo+Collins&background=random&size=42)
Mateo Collins [25 Apr 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-966.md)    Copy answer link Report answerShort answer: yes - but only if you meet the home-office rules and keep it reasonable. For US filers the space must be used regularly and exclusively as your principal place of business; employees generally can’t deduct unreimbursed WFH expenses post-2017. Internet can be deducted pro rata for the business-share of use. An ergonomic mouse or keyboard is usually deductible as an ordinary and necessary business expense (or under a de minimis/Section 179 rule) if primarily for work. Things that’re a stretch: claiming your whole rent, commuting, groceries, or shared family spaces. Use either the simplified $5/sqft method or actual expenses, document everything, justify allocations, and ask your accountant about self-employed vs employee rules. Paper trail. Always.

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![Mike R.](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Mike+R.&background=random&size=42)
Mike R. [15 Dec 2024](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-154.md)    Copy answer link Report answerI expense part of my phone bill too since I use it for work calls all the time. My company doesnt reimburse that so I claim it. So far so good.

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Abigail Cox: Keep detailed records to avoid issues Report
Mike R.: Absolutely, Abigail. Keeping detailed records has saved me a lot of headaches when tax time rolls around. It's really the best way to stay safe and justify the deductions. Thanks for pointing that out! Report

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![Easton Murphy](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Easton+Murphy&background=random&size=42)
Easton Murphy [28 Apr 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-1024.md)    Copy answer link Report answerrules vary, but home office usually needs exclusive regular use. internet prorated and gear deductible if mainly for work, keep receipts

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![O. S.](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=O.+S.&background=random&size=42)
O. S. [25 Mar 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-2691.md)    Copy answer link Report answerWhen I switched to remote work full-time, I dug into the IRS guidelines and found an interesting angle. If you’re self-employed, you can claim depreciation on expensive office equipment like that ergonomic mouse over several years instead of expensing it all at once—this spreads out your deductions and sometimes saves more tax over time. Also, some states offer additional credits for home office expenses which don’t appear on federal returns. After applying depreciation plus state credits, my overall deductible amount increased by about 15%, lowering my tax bill noticeably. Takeaway: consider long-term asset depreciation and check state-specific benefits to maximize your deductions beyond just immediate expenses.

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J. A.: Oh, that’s a neat trick! Didn’t think depreciation could apply to stuff like mice. Definitely gonna look into this for my home setup. Thanks for sharing! Report

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![Anonymous](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Anonymous&background=random&size=42)
Anonymous [26 Jan 2026](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-6216.md)    Copy answer link Report answerIf you use QuickBooks Self-Employed, track internet and utility bills by tagging expenses as business-related with the home office square footage percentage. For gear like an ergonomic mouse, log its exclusive work use and depreciate via TurboTax if over $500. Keep digital receipts in Expensify for audit-proof records—no mixed-use claims without solid proof.

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![Amelia Barnes](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Amelia+Barnes&background=random&size=42)
Amelia Barnes [23 Sep 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-3169.md)    Copy answer link Report answerClaiming internet and ergonomic gadgets sounds neat until the IRS asks for proof. Spoiler: they don't want your Wi-Fi bill or a mouse receipt unless you can separate work from Netflix time. Fancy gear? Good luck proving it’s not just an excuse to upgrade your toy collection.

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![Anonymous](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Anonymous&background=random&size=42)
Anonymous [1 Dec 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-4850.md)    Copy answer link Report answerCompare two approaches.

Approach one: Claim internet and utilities prorated by office space; keep strict logs and receipts. Outcome: solid, justifiable claims with low audit risk.

Approach two: Deduct fancy gear like ergonomic mice without clear work-only proof. Outcome: higher risk, potential denial or audit. Choose disciplined documentation for best growth in savings.

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![Gregory Murphy](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Gregory+Murphy&background=random&size=42)
Gregory Murphy [10 Jan 2026](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-5818.md)    Copy answer link Report answerIgnore the myth that everything tech-related is deductible. Screen for exclusive, regular home office use—no casual corners. Claim internet and utilities prorated by square footage; keep detailed logs showing work percentage (aim for 10-30%). Flag red: ergonomic gear or peripherals without clear business-only proof. Submit receipts and depreciation schedules if over $500 equipment. Avoid claiming mixed-use items like coffee or personal phone bills unless you can separate usage explicitly. Prioritize documentation to minimize audit risk and maximize legitimate deductions.

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![Genevieve Nelson](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Genevieve+Nelson&background=random&size=42)
Genevieve Nelson [15 Oct 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-3575.md)    Copy answer link Report answerDiving into home office deductions is like optimizing your SEO—it's all about precision and documentation! You can often claim a percentage of your internet bill based on work use, but the tricky part is proving actual usage versus leisure. That ergonomic mouse might be deductible if it truly enhances productivity, but it needs to pass the "ordinary business expense" test. Have you considered tracking your work hours online to create a solid data trail for these deductions?

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![Logan Carter](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Logan+Carter&background=random&size=42)
Logan Carter [11 Jul 2025](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-2064.md)    Copy answer link Report answerif your employer reimburses anything, claiming it might backfire. also, fancy gear only counts if you can prove it's not just a toy.

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![Anonymous](https://ui-avatars.com/api/?format=svg&name=Anonymous&background=random&size=42)
Anonymous [10 Jun 2026](https://jobicy.com/q/1733398200-tax-deductions-whats-legit-whats-a-stretch#answer-8265.md)    Copy answer link Report answerClaim internet prorated by workspace size - 15-20% common. Ergonomic mouse? Only if strictly work, keep receipts, depreciate if >$500. Utilities also prorated. No coffee or anything personal. Employees post-2017 mostly can’t deduct unreimbursed expenses federally; self-employed win here. Document work use daily for audits.

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