Working from Home
With the ongoing pandemic which has taken the world by surprise since 2020, we have found that working from home has become the norm for most of us.
Being required to work from home means that many people have had to set up home offices, and these, depending on your personal situation could mean tax-deductible expenses. The below information is to assist with your productivity, but many will also assist in the calculation and justification of any deductions.
Working from home can be a challenge at first, but the following vital tips can certainly assist in being productive:
- Create a Permanent Workspace – establish an area of your home, which is quiet with no disturbances, where you will commit to working every day and set up your desk and computer.
- Invest in Quality Technology – ensure that you have whatever you need to perform your tasks comfortably and efficiently, especially proper internet facility to keep up with the online workload.
- Get Comfortable Office Furniture and Equipment – it is important to be comfortable and to have functional equipment as you will be using this for long hours to work daily.
- Set Real Work Hours – in order to work productively from home on an everyday commitment, regardless of your schedule, you must set specific working hours which must be adhered to every day.
- Don’t Work in Your PJs – it is important to dress for work as if you were in the office, as this will prepare you mentally and physically for the day. Also, allowing you to be ready for any kind of video calls or meetings with teammates.
- Don’t Work in the Living Room – the activities that usually go on in the living room e.g. the television, will be disruptive to your performance as working from home comes with responsibility and this will defeat the purpose of working from home.
- Develop a Morning Routine – while it is good that you don’t have to rush out of the house to commute to the office, it is vital to still get up early and prepare yourself for work as you would usually do. A strict routine helps mentally and prepares you to be more focused, alert and productive.
- Stand, Walk or Stretch Regularly – this will naturally boost endorphins which are important for productivity and helps maintain a good posture. If your day allows, take a lunch break and go for a walk, or stretch.
- Avoid Family, Friends and Pets – this is particularly challenging if you have family at home. It can be difficult, but you must be disciplined and set specific work hours. Clearly inform the family of your working hours and stick to those times without interruption.
The above procedures have helped me since March last year to successfully work from home productively. Personally, for me, the best part of working from home is saving time in traffic commuting to and from work.
Should you have any queries or require any guidance on the deduction of home office expenses, please do not hesitate to contact our tax team on 011 794 5582.
We will be happy to discuss and advise what the requirements are for deductible expenses and in what cases this deduction would be applicable.