What Can I Claim Working From Home, Alberta, Canada?

[buchanansf]

I am beginning a new travel agent position January 2018 that requires I work from home Monday to Friday 9AM-5PM (4 days/month I drive to office for meetings/training). I will not be meeting clients in person but taking inbound calls to make corporate bookings. Work phone, computer and screens will be supplied. I am responsible for having internet with a minimum download/upload speed, printer/cartridges and other basic office supplies. I live in a duplex home with my wife and child that we rent. We pay for electricity, heat, water and internet cable. Also a small cost for renters insurance. I have converted a spare bedroom into a home office. The requirements are the office can be locked and that nobody else is in the home while I'm working. What items can I claim...internet, utilities, rent, office supplies such as printer cartridges, paper, pens, etc.?

[TurboTaxJeffrey · Accepted solution]

I am assuming you are employed, not considered a sub-contractor (self employed).  As such, if your employer completes and signs a T2200 form for you (Declaration of Conditions of Employment) then you may be able to claim certain expenses, depending on whether you are a salaried employee or a commissioned employee.

If you are salaried, here is a link to what may be able to be claimed:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-re...

If you are a commissioned employee, this link may help you:

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/individuals/topics/about-your-tax-return/tax-re...

Bear in mind that as a salaried employee you have fewer types of expenses available to be claimed.  If you are commissioned and claim as such, you have more types of expenses that may be claimed, but they are limited to the amount of commissions earned (box 42 of your T4).  If you are a commissioned employee, you are able to choose to claim as salaried or commissioned.