Which input tax can I claim for office equipment used for business purposes?
October 30, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Roberta Schlattmann
Dear tax advisor,
My name is Ludwig Fischer and I run a small business in the IT industry. In the past few months, I have made some purchases for my office equipment, such as a new desk, an office chair, and a computer, which are used for business purposes. Now I am wondering which input tax I can claim for these purchases.
Currently, I am unsure of how to accurately calculate the input tax for the office equipment. I have heard that it depends on whether the purchases are used exclusively for business purposes or can also be used privately. Since my home office is also used for private purposes, I am unsure of how to correctly calculate the input tax.
My concern is that I may be claiming too much or too little input tax and may encounter problems with the tax office as a result. Therefore, I would like to know from you what specific steps I need to take to calculate and claim the input tax for my office equipment used for business purposes correctly. Are there any specific regulations or exceptions that I should be aware of?
I look forward to your response and thank you in advance for your assistance.
Kind regards,
Ludwig Fischer
Dear Mr. Fischer,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding the input tax deduction for your office equipment used for business purposes. It is important to calculate and claim the input tax correctly to avoid issues with the tax authorities. I will now explain in detail how you can proceed.
In principle, you can claim the input tax for purchases that are exclusively used for business purposes. If the purchases can also be used for private purposes, you must deduct the private portion. For office equipment that is used both for business and private purposes, it is recommended to determine the percentage of the business use.
To calculate the business usage percentage, you can, for example, determine the area of your home office in relation to the total area of your apartment. Based on these area ratios, you can then calculate the business usage percentage for the office equipment. This percentage can then be used to calculate the input tax.
It is important to keep all necessary receipts and invoices for the purchases in order to claim the input tax. Make sure that the invoices contain all required information and are correctly issued. If you are uncertain whether a specific item is to be considered as business or private, feel free to contact me and I will assist you with the classification.
There are also special rules and exceptions in the area of input tax that need to be considered. For example, different rules apply for input tax on investments and ongoing operating expenses. Special rules may also apply for cross-border transactions or the acquisition of fixed assets. It is advisable to seek expert advice in these matters to avoid errors.
I hope this information helps you with the correct calculation and claiming of input tax for your office equipment used for business purposes. If you have any further questions or need assistance, I am at your disposal.
Best regards,
Roberta Schlattmann
