Course Syllabus
Course Description
Each year the U.S. Census Bureau publishes what it refers to as nonemployer statistics that may provide information about the increased importance of the business use of taxpayers’ homes. A “nonemployer,” for purposes of the statistics, is defined as a business that has no paid employees, has annual business receipts of at least $1,000 and is subject to federal income taxes. These nonemployers may be organized as corporations, partnerships or sole proprietorships. Because they have no paid employees, nonemployers are more likely than others to operate their businesses from their homes and seek a home office tax deduction.
The data supplied on nonemployers show a generally increasing number of these businesses, from a total of 19.5 million in 2004 to 26.5 million in 2018. Although they have no paid employees, they account for significant receipts. In 2004 they produced receipts of $887 billion; by 2018, those receipts had grown to $1.3 trillion. Clearly, the likelihood that any tax return preparer will be required to prepare a taxpayer’s tax return with a home office deduction is significant and is becoming more likely each year. This is a basic tax course with no prerequisites, and qualifies for 3 CE credits in the IRS Federal Tax Law category.
Learning Objectives
- Apply the home-office deduction qualification rules;
- Identify the types of home office use to which the exclusive use requirement does not apply;
- Describe the various types of taxpayer expenses that may be used to support a deduction for business use of a home;
- Apply the rules applicable to the simplified method of figuring the home-office deduction;
- Identify the tax forms on which a home-office deduction should be taken; and
- Recognize the recordkeeping requirements applicable to documents supporting a taxpayer’s home-office deduction.
Course Assignments
- Study each Chapter
- Answer review questions at the end of each chapter
- Pass the Final Exam with a score of 70 percent or better
Final Exam and Certification
The final exam consists of 15 multiple-choice questions on the information covered in the course materials. To receive credit for this course, you must click on the Exam below to initiate the exam. A passing score of 70 percent or better will receive course credit and a Certificate of Completion.
Course Materials:
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