Should I deduct a home office desk and chair or depreciate it?

[Mark.H]

I’m trying to figure out if I can deduct the cost of a home office desk and chair I bought this year. My setup is exclusively for my freelance bookkeeping work, but I’m not sure if a single furniture purchase meets the threshold for a deduction or if it has to be depreciated instead.

[DavidTT]

For a home office setup used solely for your freelance bookkeeping, the desk and chair can be treated as business property. You can depreciate them over seven years under the regular method, or you can elect to expense the full cost in the purchase year with Section 179, subject to your business income limits.

[OliviaYM]

I tried the simplified home office route once, but it doesn't cover big purchases like a desk. That method bases the write-off on square footage, not the furniture, so the desk cost would come in only if you use the regular method.

[Richard.C]

Do you actually qualify the space as a home office under IRS rules, or is the real issue just how to treat the furniture?

[StephenW]

I measured the room and debated claiming the whole thing, but I got stuck on the depreciation schedule and ended up asking my accountant before I did anything.