During the pandemic people have been working from home . The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) introduced a new temporary flat rate method which will help to simplify claiming the deduction for home office expenses for the 2020 tax year.
As an employee, you may be able to claim a deduction for home office expenses such as office supplies, and certain phone expenses. This is claimed on your personal income tax return. These type of deductions reduce the total income and in turn reduce your overall income tax liability.
Eligibility
In order to claim the deduction you must meet all of the following criteria:
you worked from home in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic or your employer required you to work from home
you worked more than 50% of the time from home for a period of at least four consecutive weeks in 2020
have a completed and signed Form T2200S or Form T2200 from your employer (only applicable if the detailed method is used to complete the claim)
the expenses are used directly in your work during the period
Simplified method
The new temporary flat rate method simplifies your claim for home office expenses.
You can use this new method if you worked more than 50% of the time from home for a period of at least four consecutive weeks in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this method you can claim $2 for each day you worked from home during that period plus any additional days you worked at home in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The maximum you can claim using the new temporary flat rate method is $400 (200 working days) per individual.
You do not have to: calculate the size of your work space, keep supporting documents or get Form T2200 completed and signed by your employer.
What counts as a work day
days you worked full-time hours from home
days you worked part-time hours from home
What days do not count
days off
vacation days
sick leave days
other leave or absence
Detailed method
Should you use the detailed method a simplified process was created.
To support you, the CRA:
created a simplified Form T2200S and Form T777S
created a calculator to help you claim the home office expense deduction that you are entitled to
will accept an electronic signature on the Form T2200S and Form T2200 to reduce the necessity for employees and employers to meet in person (applies to the 2020 tax year only)
Should you have any questions please feel free to contact our advisors at LFG Accounting and Advisory.