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The Daily Insight

Can you claim home office expenses if you rent?

Author

Andrew Mclaughlin

Published Feb 09, 2026

Yes. If your office is in an apartment (or in a house you rent), you can deduct the portion of your rent and maintenance costs that relate to the space that’s used for your office.

Is renting an apartment for work tax deductible?

Unlike mortgage interest paid by homeowners, rent paid on an apartment is generally not tax deductible. However, you can include a portion of the rent in your business deductions if you run a home-based business from your apartment.

What qualifies for a home office?

You must show that you use your home as your principal place of business. If you conduct business at a location outside of your home, but also use your home substantially and regularly to conduct business, you may qualify for a home office deduction.

Is it possible to have a Home Office in an apartment?

Browse through our gallery of apartment home office ideas that will inspire you to create the workspace that you always dreamed of. Having a proper workspace is a huge factor in productivity. Most of us dreamt of a dedicated home office but it is almost unrealistic when you are living in an apartment.

Can You claim home office space on rent?

You can’t claim your home office space because it’s easier for you to work from home; it has to benefit your employer. You also can’t claim the deduction if you’re living in a place where your employer pays the rent. What tips should I keep in mind about deductions?

Can you rent your office space to more than one person?

Some home owners will rent office space to more than person at the same time. Geber86/Getty Images The sharing economy is here to stay. We now live a world where Airbnb hosts more rooms in more global destinations than any major hotel chain, and Uber is competing with Google to produce the first self-driving taxi.

Can a small apartment qualify for a home office deduction?

However, not everybody has an extra room to spare—and the IRS recognizes this. You can still claim the deduction even if you use just part of a room as your office, as long as you use that part exclusively for business.