Use of home as office

Produced by a Tolley Personal Tax expert
Personal Tax
Guidance

Use of home as office

Produced by a Tolley Personal Tax expert
Personal Tax
Guidance
imgtext

Many people work from home either on an informal or a full-time basis. These people can be employed or self-employed, and their employment status affects the expenses they can claim as a deduction from their earnings.

When dealing with someone working from home, it is important to note that although exclusive business use of part of the house may mean that it is possible to claim tax relief for more of the household expenses, it will restrict capital gains tax (CGT) relief on the sale of the house. This is discussed further in the Principal private residence relief ― anti avoidance guidance note.

Normally, there will be no liability to business rates if the room(s) used for the business is also used domestically. If a significant proportion of the property is used exclusively, or almost exclusively, for business, then business rates may be payable. The council tax banding on the remainder of the property may also need adjustment. For more on business rates, see the GOV.UK website.

Self-employed

The general rule for allowing revenue

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
Powered by Tolley+
  • 25 Mar 2026 11:50

Popular Articles

Taxation of dividend income

Taxation of dividend incomeIntroductionA dividend is a distribution of profit by a company to its shareholders.A dividend is not only a payment in cash. It can be the issue of new shares in exchange for forfeiting the right to a cash payment (a stock dividend). For more detail, see the Cash

14 Jul 2020 13:48 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more

BPR ― trading and investment businesses

BPR ― trading and investment businessesIntroductionThe basic qualification rules for business property relief (BPR) are illustrated in the Flowchart ― trading or investment business for BPR purposes.For an overview of BPR, see the BPR overview guidance note.Relevant business propertyThe main

14 Jul 2020 15:36 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more

Non-business expenses

Non-business expensesIntroductionIn order for an expense to be tax deductible it must be incurred because of an employee’s employment. Any non-business related expense is, therefore, not relievable except in some very particular circumstances.This guidance note deals with three separate issues. The

14 Jul 2020 12:16 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more