subject: Common Home Income Tax Deductions [print this page] A lot of homeowners are living in one of their largest tax deductions without even knowing it. This is especially true of people who have added on to their home or done some remodeling project recently. There are actually lots of different ways you can use home improvements for tax deductions. Yes, you can often subtract the amount of interest you pay on your mortgage or home equity loans, but there are also a multitude of home expenses and repairs you can use to lower your taxable income if you meet certain requirements.
The improvements you make to your house may qualify for income tax deductions or credits depending upon the size of the project, the need for the home upgrade and your overall income situation. Many house improvements and home remodeling projects can be counted towards lowering your income if you meet some special requirements. Sometimes you need to operate a business or serve customers in a part of your house to be eligible for these credits, but there are other deductions you can use even if you don't work out of your home. A lot of people have heard about the new environmentally friendly tax deductions, but you should consider some of the expenses of other different home improvement projects as well.
Tax deduction for lawn care - In the past tax courts ruled that if you operate your own business and serve clients regularly at your house you may be able to deduct a portion of your lawn care bills as a business expense because it makes your business more attractive. You probably won't be able to subtract the entire amount, but rather, you would have to deduct part of the cost in proportion to how much your business and living areas share the same space. This is just one of the many possible deductions you can use if you really run your business out of your home.
Swimming pool tax deduction - Tax laws state that in some cases a part of the expenses to install a swimming pool can be deducted from your taxes if there is a solid health-related reason to have a pool. In one case a gentleman with low breating capacity used a swimming pool to exercise and increase his lung strength. Since he used the pool more than his family he was allowed to deduct a portion of the costs as a medical expense. You should also know that the IRS considers a swimming pool and a spa to be the same sort of medical device. Other medical devices for the house such as ramps for wheelchairs may also qualify for a deduction.
Tax credits for new doors - Select Energy Star entry doors that meet certain energy efficiency criteria are eligible for a tax credit of up to 30% of the cost of the door with a maximum tax credit of $1,500. If you're going to install new doors this year, make sure they meet the minimum requirements for this tax credit.
Not all home improvements qualify for tax credits, but with a little research you can almost surely save some cash on your federal taxes and upgrade your home at the same time. The rules for income taxes are always changing, so it might be beneficial to speak with a qualified tax professional about your home improvements to find out of you are eligible for any of these special credits. To be certain that you are counting everything you can, you will want to take lots of notes, take a lot of photos and obviously keep all your receipts for every possible home addition expense. If you are planning on finishing some home improvements this year, you should really investigate the possible tax savings that might be available!
