The rise of remote work has transformed the professional landscape, offering flexibility and convenience (and endless coffee breaks). But this work-from-home revolution has exposed an important element of the internet: a reliable internet connection is no longer a perk, but a necessity.
Your home and your office are now one unit and your internet needs to support the activities of both work and play. You’re now emailing where you’re streaming, video chatting where you’re scrolling, and researching where you’re gaming. Your internet should always support your changing lifestyle.
Interested in 1 Gig or Fiber internet plans? Click here for more information about what we offer.
What Is a Good Internet Speed for Working From Home?
Your household may be juggling anywhere from 10 to 15, even up to 20 devices at a time. Working remotely means you’re video chatting, constantly downloading files, researching, relying on internal messaging apps and project management tools, and using specific software unique to your job. It’s a lot, on top of everything else you have going on in your daily life.
Your ideal internet speed for your work-from-home environment depends on your specific needs. It’s measured by bandwidth—the amount of information your internet uploads or downloads per second—and will appear as Megabits per second (Mbps).
If you’re looking for a basic and more affordable plan, consider one that can handle between five and eight devices with upload speeds of around 20 Mbps and download speeds of around 200 Mbps.
For a remote work setting with more users and devices, look for a plan that can handle upwards of 10-plus devices with upload speeds of 20 Mbps and download speeds of around 1,000 Mbps.
No home office is complete with slow internet. If you’re a remote employee in the Greater Tacoma region, check out what we offer for reliable, high-speed internet (and see why we’re the best internet provider in Tacoma).
What to Consider With Your Work From Home Internet?
When it comes to working from home, your internet connection is just as important as your laptop and desk. Though you can’t physically hold it, nothing gets done without it. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing your work-from-home internet.
Speed
As explained above, your ideal speed depends on your workload. Basic tasks like emails and web browsing require minimal bandwidth (3 to 5 Mbps download). For video conferencing and cloud-based applications, aim for 25 to 50 Mbps download speed. Frequent video calls or large file uploads might require even higher speeds (100 Mbps and above).
Read more about the ins and outs of understanding internet speeds here.
Reliability
Speed doesn’t really matter if your connection constantly drops. Look for an internet service provider (ISP) with strong reliability to avoid frustrating interruptions during important calls or meetings.
Number of Devices
You don’t just use a laptop. There’s phones, TVs, other computers, possibly tablets—that all adds up. If multiple devices in your home are using the internet simultaneously, they’ll all be competing for bandwidth.
Number of People Using the Internet
Chances are, you aren’t alone. Your partner may work from home, your kids may be doing homework (or streaming, scrolling, and gaming if we’re being honest). You’ll need a higher overall internet speed the more people you have under your roof.
Upload Speed
While download speed is important for receiving data, upload speed is equally important for sending data. Prioritize upload speed if high-quality video conferencing is a regular part of your workday.
Can You Deduct Internet From Taxes if You Work From Home?
Most employees cannot deduct work-from-home expenses, including internet costs, from their taxes. This is because the deduction applies to expenses incurred for your own business, not your employer’s.
What this does mean is that self-employed individuals can still potentially deduct a portion of their home office expenses, including internet, on their tax returns. They are considered the owners of their business and the home office is considered a necessary expense for running that business.
There are specific rules and limitations. The home office needs to be used exclusively and regularly for the self-employed business, and the deduction is based on the percentage of the home dedicated to this workspace.
For W2 employees: See if your employer reimburses internet costs as some companies offer stipends or reimbursements.
For self-employment: You may be eligible to deduct a portion of your home office expenses, including internet costs, on your tax return. Consult a tax professional to find out if you qualify and how to properly deduct if you do.
Forget slow upload speeds and dropped meeting calls. Check out our internet options to improve your work-from-home set-up today.
