I operate an in-home business. What business documents do I need to claim business expenses?
To claim business expenses you will need to provide related business documents including receipts for all of the business expenses you want to deduct. Your documents should show:
- Amount
- Date
- Place
- Essential character of the expense
The documents can include:
- Receipts
- Cancelled checks
- An account book
- Customer account book
- Expense report
- Accounting log
- A diary
- Calendar
- Other record that duplicates information shown on a receipt kept at or near the time of the expense
After you file, you should keep these business documents with a copy of your tax return.
For the business use of your home, you’ll allocate the home office expenses. This is based on the percentage of the square footage of your home used regularly and exclusively for business.
Expenses you might incur when running a business from your home include:
- Real estate taxes
- Qualified mortgage insurance premiums
- Deductible mortgage interest
- Casualty losses
- Depreciation
- Insurance
- Rent
- Repairs
- Security system
- Utilities and services
Related Resources
Learn whether you can claim the earned income tax credit if you are married and filing separately with advice from the tax experts at H&R Block.
Can your parents claim you as a dependent? Can you claim yourself? Learn the ins and outs of dependent tax rules with the experts at H&R Block.
How many college tax credits can you claim at one time? Learn more from the tax experts at H&R Block.
Learn if you can deduct medical expenses on your state tax return with advice from the tax experts at H&R Block.
