According to Statistics Canada, more than 6 million Canadians worked from home throughout the year due to COVID-19 who would not normally do so. As a result, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has simplified the work from home tax claim process for the 2020 Tax Year, with the goal of making things easier for both employees and businesses.

To ensure more people can access the deductions they are entitled to, the qualifying period for those eligible to claim home office expense deductions is now defined as those who worked from home in 2020 for more than 50% of the time during a period of at least 4 consecutive weeks. 

A temporary flat rate method allows employees to claim a $2 deduction for each day they worked at home due to COVID-19 in 2020, up to a maximum of $400. To decrease administrative burdens, employees will not have to get form T2200 completed by their employer. 

Should the T2200 form be required, a simplified version T2200S has been created, along with an online calculator to help employees calculate eligible expenses. 

You can find all the details on work from home expenses outlined at the CRA website.