Home Office, Phone, and Mileage: Which Deductions Should Every Lean Entrepreneur Be Tracking?
Your home office, phone bill, and car mileage could easily add up to thousands in deductions — if you track them properly. Stop guessing and start keeping what’s yours.
Summary of What This Blog Covers
- Home office: simplified vs. regular method (and when regular wins big)
- Phone & internet: how much is really deductible
- Mileage: 67¢ per mile in 2025 — the easiest deduction you’re probably missing
- One monthly habit that makes all three audit-proof
1. Home Office Deduction
Qualifies if: Exclusive + regular business use
Simplified: $5/sq ft (max 300 ft → $1,500)
Regular (usually better): % of rent/mortgage interest, utilities, insurance, repairs, depreciation
Homeowners: the regular method often doubles or triples the deduction.
2. Phone & Internet
Estimate business % (60–90% is common for founders).
Keep one bill per year + a short memo explaining the %.
Deduct that % of the bill every month — no receipts needed after that.
3. Mileage & Vehicle Expenses
2025 rate: 67¢ per business mile (client meetings, post office, supply runs)
Track: Date, purpose, start/end location, miles
Apps (MileIQ, Everlance) or a $2 notebook both work — just be consistent.
One Dead-Simple Monthly Tracking System
15 minutes each month:
1. Screenshot phone/internet bill → deduct %
2. Export mileage log
3. Measure home office % once a year
4. Drop everything in a “2025 Deductions” folder
Done. Audit-proof and maximum savings.
Ready to capture every deduction you deserve?
Book a Deduction Strategy Session with Insogna. We’ll review what you’re currently tracking, show you the gaps, and set up the exact system that fits your life. Whether you searched “CPA Austin”, “tax preparer near me”, or “small business accountant”, we make deductions simple and profitable.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Can I deduct part of my apartment for a home office?
Yes — if it’s used exclusively and regularly for business. Simplified or regular method both work.
2) How much of my phone & internet bill can I write off?
Whatever % is actually business use (60–90% is common). One bill + a short memo is usually enough.
3) What driving qualifies as business mileage?
Client meetings, bank, post office, supply runs — anything required for the business.
4) What if I don’t track and just guess later?
You’ll either miss deductions or lose them in an audit. The IRS wants contemporaneous records.
5) Is this really worth tracking monthly?
Yes — home office + phone + mileage often total $8K–$15K+ in deductions for lean founders.