3 ms·
Germany better fixes their insane taxation policy on home office matters. It was improved a bit a few years back but it's still a mess. A few years ago you nee
by foepys 7y ago
Germany better fixes their insane taxation policy on home office matters. It was improved a bit a few years back but it's still a mess.
A few years ago you needed to have a separate room (with a door!) without any personal items in it to be considered a home office for tax reasons. Even a second chair was reason enough to make your tax report invalid (or fraud, depending on the policy of the local tax office).
Nowadays it's gotten a bit better as a corner of the room can be considered an office but there are still size restrictions and the computer can only be used exclusively for work. It's still a mess that you have to fight your communal tax office for and in the end comes down to the fact that the person responsible to check your report has to believe you and it's way to easy for them to say no.
- Razengan 7y ago> you needed to have a separate room (with a door!) without any personal items in it to be considered a home office ... and the computer can only be used exclusively for work. I agree that that's how it should be, by default. See that other comment about mental context switches. Companies could provide specialized laptops for work. It would help with privacy, focus and sensitive data being overseen by kids/spouses/guests, until you can assure your employer that you can take care of that on your own.
- foepys 7y agoIt's penalizing low income employees and only benefiting the rich. People without the money to buy a house or large apartment will have to pay more. Even if you were to have an extra room for work, what if you want a child? Losing tax benefits is an extra cost you have to burden. It's expensive to be poor, as always.
- Razengan 7y agoAh, didn't see it from that angle. Of course then there should be exceptions for people who can't afford dedicated offices.