Sunday, December 8, 2024

6 Expert Tax Deduction Tips for Selling Your Home

Are you thinking about, or in the process of, selling your house? The financial effects of selling a home can be stressful. 

If you’re thinking of possible tax deductions when selling your property. Check out this list to ensure you get all of them.

Capital Gains Tax

The capital gains rule is conceptually an exclusion rather than a deduction, but you will appreciate it nonetheless.

Capital gains tax may be due when you sell your property. If you paid less than what you made on selling your property, you would owe less tax. However, you could qualify for a tax exemption on all or a portion of this profit. However, for most taxes, the deduction number is $250,000 for individuals and $500,000 for married couples filing collectively.

Improvements and Repairs

Another tip! If you improved a few areas to increase your home’s resale value, you could subtract the money you spent on those renovations. 

Fixes that aren’t optional but are essential to keep the house in livable shape are considered maintenance. In contrast, improvements like new additions or upgrades are considered investments that raise the property’s worth. 

If you make changes or adjustments to your house, document them. It all boils down to timing.

Selling Costs

The costs of selling your property, including real estate commissions, advertising, and legal fees, can also be subtracted from your capital gains. It’s essential to keep account of these transactions and provide supporting evidence when submitting your taxes because they can rapidly accumulate.

Home Office Deduction 

Are you working from home?

If you made a home office setup, you could use this to offset some of the selling expenses of your house. For the home office to qualify, it must have been used frequently and only for work.

Moving Expenses

Selling your house and relocating for work qualify you for a tax break to cover the costs of packing and transferring to your new home. In addition to meeting other IRS requirements, you can take advantage of this policy if your new employee is more than 50 miles from your previous one.

Rental Property

Do you own real estate that you rent out? 

You could deduct the depreciation costs if you sold a rented property. However, it would help if you also recaptured any depreciation you claimed on your tax returns when you owned the property.

Now What?

Selling a home can have significant tax implications. Understanding what tax deductions are available and how they work can save you a lot of money and make the selling process smoother. Keep records of any improvements or repairs made to your home and any costs associated with selling it. Consult with a tax professional if you have any questions or concerns.

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