[picard88]

I am a 1099 with a company and would like to get an apartment and set up my office to work in the apartment. I would also live in it. I was curious if I can deduct the rent paid and internet cost etc...

[excon]

Hello p:

Yes, but not ALL of it. I'm not familiar with current IRS rules on a home office, but in order to deduct it LEGALLY, you'll have to have a part of your apartment designated as your office that isn't used for anything else. If you just do work on your kitchen table, you can't deduct any rent. Certainly, the expenses that are strictly business can be deducted. Internet? Only if you don't use it personally.

excon

[ebaines]

Excon is right - the area that is your business office must be exclusively business - it can't be shared with any non-busienss purpose. For an apartment ths would mean using one of the bedrooms exclusively as an office, and don't use it for other purposes (never use it as a guest room, for example). It must also be your principal place of business - if you normally work at the company office then you can't deduct the home office costs. See Pub 587 for details:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p587.pdf