Many homeowners are living in one of their largest tax deductions without even realizing it. This is especially true of people who have upgraded their house 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 deduct the amount of interest you pay on your home loan or home equity loans, but there are also a multitude of home expenses and repairs you can use to reduce your taxable income if you meet certain criteria.
The changes you make to your house can be eligible for tax deductions or credits depending upon the size of the project, the need for the home upgrade and your overall tax situation. Many home improvements and home remodeling projects can be used towards reducing your income if you meet some certain requirements. Sometimes you need to operate a business or meet clients 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 house. A lot of people have heard about the new environmentally friendly tax credits, but you might want to also consider some of the expenses of other various home improvement projects too.
Tax deduction for lawn care – In the past tax courts ruled that if you run your own business and serve customers regularly at your home you may be able to deduct a portion of your landscaping costs as a business expense because it makes your business more likely to succeed. You probably will not be able to subtract the entire amount, but rather, you would have to deduct a portion of the expense in proportion to how much your business and living areas share the same house. This is just one of the many possible deductions you can take if you really operate your business from your home.
Pool tax deduction – Tax laws state that in some cases a part of the costs to install a pool can be deducted from your taxes if there is a valid medical reason to use a pool. You should also know that the Internal Revenue Service considers a swimming pool and a spa to be the same sort of medical device. In one case a gentleman with low breating capacity used a pool to exercise and increase his breathing strength. Since he used the pool more than his family he was allowed to deduct part of the expenses as a medical expense. Other health-related devices for the home such as elevators for wheelchairs may also qualify for a deduction.
New roof tax credits – Certain roof types are considered to be more energy efficient and have a greater positive impact on the environment by reducing energy consumption and lasting longer. There are actually a number of energy-saving home upgrades that can make you eligible for a tax deductionin 2009 and 2010, but not all energy saving, or even all Energy Star, products qualify.
Not all home improvements are eligible for tax credits, but with a little research you can definitely save some cash on your income taxes and improve your home at the same time. The rules for income tax deductions are always changing, so it might be beneficial to speak with a qualified tax professional about your home improvements to find out of you qualify for some of these special credits. To be sure that you are counting everything you can, you should take copious notes, take a lot of photos and of course organize all your receipts for every possible home improvement expense. If you’re planning on finishing some home projects this year, you should really investigate the possible tax credits that might be available!
Still haven’t done your taxes? You can often save a bundle of money with just a few minutes of reading about your possible home improvement tax deductions. You don’t need to hire home improvement contractors for these savings. Even if you’re a home improvement amateur, you can save lots of money by doing your own projects around your house.
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