I'd like to claim a home office deduction (I've reviewed the details and I'm eligible). It's my first year with a rental property, and I did not have a profit (on paper), so I know that the deduction and depreciation from the home office is unallowed but can be carried forward to a future tax year. However, the instructions in Publication 587 say "Complete and attach Form 4562 to your return if this is the first year you used your home... in business." But, the depreciation entered on form 4562 gets transferred to Schedule E, where it gets applied as a deduction (which is not allowed...). I see no other place on schedule E to enter/carryover unallowed depreciation.
Can anyone comment on how to treat this?
Do you just claim "0" for the deduction on form 4562 (column g, line 19i) but enter the month/year and basis (corrected for % of business use) and then enter your depreciation in a future year in line 17 when you have the profit to claim it?
Or do you put the calculated depreciation on form 4562 and indicate somewhere else that it isn't allowable and will be carried forward?
Note: "Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide" says you can claim the home office deduction -- if you otherwise qualify -- on schedule E without having to file Schedule C or form 8829. I'm totally set for the expenses - I'm just struggling with how to treat the unallowed depreciation and carryover to a future tax year.
