All costs for maintaining, repairing, and improving your workspace are, in principle, professional expenses. These can range from a painter and minor repairs to large-scale renovations. These costs are necessary to keep your workspace functional and presentable.
Examples of maintenance costs
- Painting: Costs for painting walls and ceilings in your office space.
- Repairs: Expenses for repairing electric installations, plumbing or structural damage.
- Renovations: Large-scale improvements such as installing new floors, windows or insulation.
Maintenance: Regular maintenance such as cleaning services, garden maintenance and minor repairs.
Property maintenance, partially related to your profession
If your property is partially used for your business, the maintenance costs can be deducted proportionally as professional expenses. For example, if 20% of your property is used as office space, you can deduct 20% of the maintenance costs.
Property maintenance, 100% related to your profession
If you use the location entirely for your business, the maintenance costs can be deducted in full as professional expenses. For example, if you rent or own a property that serves entirely as office space, you can deduct 100% of the maintenance costs.
Maintenance costs of your home as a deductible professional expense
The costs of maintaining a home or office space can be considered a professional expense and therefore deducted from your taxes, provided they relate to your business activities. Here are some important points to keep in mind:
- Proportionality: If your home is used partially for business purposes, calculate the proportional share of the maintenance costs that relates to your business space.
- Documentation: Keep all invoices and proof of payment for maintenance costs. This is essential to demonstrate that these expenses are professional. Invoices from painters, contractors and other maintenance services must be well documented.
- Accurate bookkeeping: Ensure that your bookkeeping is up to date and that you keep accurate records of all costs. This will assist with tax returns and provide you with a clear summary of your business expenses. Use accounting software that specifically offers cost categories for maintenance costs.
How to process maintenance costs as business expenses?
- Keep all invoices and proof of payment: Collect all proof of maintenance costs and keep them in a safe place. This is crucial for accounting and tax returns. Make sure you can clearly justify each expense with an invoice or proof of payment.
- Calculate the business portion: If your home is used partially for business purposes, calculate the proportional portion of the maintenance costs that relates to your business space.
- Register the expenses in your accounting system: Record the maintenance costs in your accounting system under the appropriate category. This makes it easier to deduct these costs on your tax return. The simple accounting platform Dexxter has a category specifically for maintenance costs.
