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Home office deduction for W2 employee - CA state

ptax255
Level 5

Hi,

Probably the most common question I get asked so I want to confirm my understanding. This is deductible in CA state as a misc. deduction AND if the employer doesn't offer an office. Is this correct? Is it calculated same way as self-employed ($5/sq foot or actual method)?

Thanks!

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1 Comment 1
jritchie
Level 3

You are correct.  If there is no employer office to use and the home space is a dedicated space (it can't be the couch or the kitchen table).  CA allows the home office deduction if it exceeds the standard deduction and 2% of Federal AGI.  That threshold can be hard for CA renters to hit unless they have other misc deductions like medical expenses, chartiable donations, etc. Home office goes under Miscellaneous Itemized Deductions for CA. 

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