Claiming Property Taxes on Your Tax Return
If you pay taxes on your personal property and real estate that you own, you payments may be deductible from your federal income tax bill. Most state and local tax authorities calculate property taxes based on the value of the homes located within their areas, and some agencies also tax personal property. If you pay either type of property tax, claiming the tax deduction is a simple matter of itemizing your deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040.
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Key Takeaways
- If you itemize your deductions, you can deduct the property taxes you pay on your main residence and any other real estate you own.
- The total amount of deductible state and local income taxes, including property taxes, is limited to $10,000 per year.
- Miscellaneous charges that appear on your tax bill, including fees for the delivery of a service or assessments for local benefits, aren't deductible.
- Costs of maintenance and repairs that the tax authority itemizes in your bill can be deductible.
Personal property taxes
Some states, cities and counties assess property taxes on various types of property you own that are used to produce income, such as tools and other equipment. Every local district has its own list of what type of property is taxed and specifies how taxpayers should determine the item's taxable value.
For example, Miami-Dade County in Florida requires taxpayers to use the fair market value of the property as the taxable value.
Real property taxes
Homeowners who itemize their tax returns can deduct property taxes they pay on their main residence and any other real estate they own.
- This includes property taxes you pay starting from the date you purchase the property.
- The official sale date is typically listed on the settlement statement you get at closing.
However, if you agree to pay the seller's delinquent taxes from an earlier year at the time you close the sale, you are not permitted to deduct them on your tax return. This payment must be treated as part of the cost of buying the home, rather than as a property tax deduction.
Beginning in 2018, the total amount of deductible state and local income taxes, including property taxes, is limited to $10,000 per year.
TurboTax Tip:
If you pay your real property through an escrow account every month as part of your mortgage payment, you can deduct only the amount that the bank or lender actually pays the tax authority. This amount is often reported to you on your Form 1098.
Non-deductible real property charges
Certain items on your real estate property tax bill may look like taxes but are actually miscellaneous charges that are not deductible. These can include:
- fees for the delivery of a service such as water or trash collection
- flat fees to satisfy fines such as a charge to mow your lawn that wasn't compliant with local law
- assessments for local benefits such as a charge to construct a sidewalk outside your house
You can deduct costs of maintenance and repairs included in your tax bill, however, only if the tax authority itemizes these amounts in your bill.
Taxes paid through escrow accounts
If you pay your real property taxes by depositing money into an escrow account every month as part of your mortgage payment, make sure you don't treat these payments as your property tax deduction.
Generally, only the amount that the bank or lender actually pays the tax authority during the years is deductible. This amount is often shown on your Form 1098 where it is reported to you and to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). That’s because, the amount you must pay to an escrow account is adjusted yearly to be as close as possible to the precise amount due, but it’s rarely exactly the same amount.
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