Some Commonly Missed House Tax Credits

By Tim Klimeck


If you are a homeowner who pays income taxes in the United States then you may know that there are many different costs that you can deduct from your taxable income to lower your taxes and save cash each year. Sure, you can usually subtract 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 home can qualify for income tax deductions or credits depending upon the cost of the project, the need for the home improvement and your overall income situation. Many house improvements and home upgrades can be counted towards lowering your income if you meet some special requirements. Sometimes you need to run a business or serve customers in a part of your house to qualify 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 various home improvement projects too.

Tax deduction for lawn care - You probably will not be able to subtract the entire amount, but rather, you would have to deduct part of the expense in proportion to how much your business and home share the same space. This is only one of the many possible deductions you can use if you really run your business from your home. 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 attractive.

Pool tax deduction - Tax rules state that in some cases a portion of the expenses to install a pool can be deducted from your taxable income if there is a solid health-related reason to use a pool. In one ruling a gentleman with decreased lung capacity used a swimming pool to exercise and increase his breathing strength. Since he used the swimming pool more than his family he was allowed to deduct part of the costs as a medical expense. You should also know that the Internal Revenue Service considers a pool and a spa to be the same thing. Other health-related devices for the home such as chair lifts 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 are going to install new doors this year, make sure they meet the minimum requirements for this tax deduction.

If you're planning on finishing some home upgrades this year, you should really look into the possible tax credits that might be available! Not all home improvements are eligible for tax deductions, but with a little research you can definitely save some cash on your federal taxes and upgrade 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 expert about your home improvements to find out of you are eligible for some of these special credits. To be sure that you are deducting everything you can, you should take lots of notes, take a lot of photos and of course keep all your receipts for every possible home addition expense.




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