1 Section 18(12)

choral celtic, avant-garde jazz griot · 3:34

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Sarah works from home, her spare room's now her space
Computer, desk, and files in their designated place
But can she claim this cost when filing her return?
Section eighteen twelve has rules that she must learn

[Chorus]
Exclusively or almost exclusively used
Ninety percent business, that's the threshold to be approved
Principal place of business, or meeting clients face to face
These are the only ways to claim your home office space
No square footage ratios written in the Act
CRA guidance helps but statutory law's the fact

[Verse 2]
Mike's a consultant who meets clients in his den
Tuesday through Saturday, from nine to five and then
His home becomes his office, exclusively it seems
But mixed-use spaces don't fulfill these legal schemes

[Chorus]
Exclusively or almost exclusively used
Ninety percent business, that's the threshold to be approved
Principal place of business, or meeting clients face to face
These are the only ways to claim your home office space
No square footage ratios written in the Act
CRA guidance helps but statutory law's the fact

[Bridge]
Administrative guidance gives us proportional rules
One-third formulas and percentage tools
But read the statute closely, there's no mention of square feet
The test is use-based only, making compliance complete

[Verse 3]
Lisa runs her practice from her basement every day
No other office space, she works from home this way
Principal place qualifies under subsection twelve
Her home office costs are deductible wealth

[Chorus]
Exclusively or almost exclusively used
Ninety percent business, that's the threshold to be approved
Principal place of business, or meeting clients face to face
These are the only ways to claim your home office space
No square footage ratios written in the Act
CRA guidance helps but statutory law's the fact

[Outro]
Section eighteen twelve defines the only test
Use-based requirements, forget about the rest
Business use exclusively, that's the key to know
For home office claims and making sure they flow

← 4 The Double Role Problem | 2 The "Exclusively" Argument →