Comments on: Home Improvement Tax Deductions and Credits

By: jeanne

jeanne — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:33:43 +0000

Hi, I did a complete remodel of my home this year. I know that I can deduct up to $500 for energy efficient materials but can I also deduct the labor and/or taxes paid for the energy efficient materials?

Thank you

By: maria

maria — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:43:45 +0000

I paid $600 to get my trees trimmed..can I use that as a tax deduction for home improvements?

By: jeannie

jeannie — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:13:14 +0000

Hi,

I had to buy a water softner system for my house because the water was so full of iron.. Can I deduct the water softner system on my taxes as a home improvement because it does add to the life of the house by saving me from having to replace all the appliances more often than I would like to..

By: Evelyn Rodriguez

Evelyn Rodriguez — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:21:50 +0000

I had soffit installed all around the outside of the house due to damage caused by carpenter bees. Would this be considered a tax credit or deduction for home improvement?

By: Millie Munn

Millie Munn — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 21:54:41 +0000

Tom, we live in a rural area in a house built in 1877. The existing well was a hand dug well and it went dry two years running in the fall after a drough condition. We had a new deep well drilled, which amounted to 18,000 dollars. Is any portion of the cost tax deductible?

By: shirley jaster

shirley jaster — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:58:23 +0000

My home was damaged in the May 22 2011 tornado in Joplin Mo. I had to pay some money out of my pocket over and above ins in order to make my home livable again. Is any of it tax ded??

By: Tom Coffee

Tom Coffee — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:33:25 +0000

Robin,

Welcome! I’m not a tax expert, but I’m not aware of any sort of tax deductions you can take for changing or repaving a driveway. Sorry.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:59:53 +0000

Hello,
Last year, I improved my driveway by repaved my driveway and created a new turn around spot b\c I live on a very busy street. Are there any tax deductions for this upgrade?
Thanks
Robin

By: Tom Coffee

Tom Coffee — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:53:31 +0000

Zena: Hard to say, but you may want to speak to a tax adviser about that. I would guess that it does NOT count because the tax credits seem to be tied to specific products (high efficiency furnaces, water heaters, energy efficient windows, etc.) and not to specific services. The labor costs for a job like that would not be tax deductible, but there’s a small chance that the insulation or sealant is. Good luck!

By: Zena

Zena — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:17:24 +0000

My house gets cold, humid, and molds are everywhere in winter time. According to the contractor, it is because the lack of sealing on the exterior wall. So I paid to do that. Is this a tax deductable?

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 12:24:56 +0000

I had an additon added to my house so that my father could live with me because he in no longer able to take care of himself. Can I take this addition or at least portion of this addition as a deduction/credit? Which form do I need to fill out?

Thank you in advance!

By: Tom Coffee

Tom Coffee — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 10:00:09 +0000

Joe, I wish I could say "Yes!" but I don't think I can. Just because something is energy efficient and saves money doesn't mean it will definitely qualify for a tax credit or deduction. Each year the Federal Government scales back the amount of money they all you to deduct. Up to $500 for the materials of a metal roof can be deducted, but I think they need to be on your main home, not over a patio. You can read about the latest home improvement tax credits from the official Energy Star website.

By: Joe Pauley

Joe Pauley — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:40:49 +0000

Hello – great article…thank you for the contribution.

We just purchased an aluminium patio cover for our 12×20 concrete slab (where direct sunlight comes through our arcadia 8 hours a day); it blocks out heat in
the summer and yet allows sun through (w/ our UV-rated panels) in the winter etc., would this
therefore qualify as an “energy efficient” upgrade for tax purposes? It certainly will impact the efficiency of our energy consumption. Thanks in advance for your feedback.

By: remodel expert

remodel expert — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 03:54:31 +0000

Your article “home Repair versus Home improvement” is a very good one thanks

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 02 May 2011 19:36:43 +0000

Cheryl,

Unlikely but you can always check with a tax adviser to be sure. Most energy efficiency tax deductions come from installing or using products that are specially designed explicitly for energy savings. It’s pretty well regulated, so things like insulation, new energy-efficient windows and doors and home appliances are the most common tax deductions when it comes to saving energy.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:11:53 +0000

Does bricking in a home, replacing the skirting on a home that would let the heat escape, able to be deducted?

By: Robert Leutzinger

Robert Leutzinger — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:36:26 +0000

I had to get a home equity loan for fifteen thousand dollars to install a new septic system at my house because rules and regulations has change in our county and mine was not up to code . Can any of this money be deducted?

By: Dennis

Dennis — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:54:28 +0000

I took the 1500 tax credit last year for replacing my roof on my home. This year I replaced all of my windows with the low-E rated windows which would qualify for the deduction, but sice i took the credit last year I cannot take it this year. My question is: How can I take the windows improvemnt this year and get some type of AGI adjustment to lower my tax burden?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:53:48 +0000

I have to replace the whole sewer line in my house. Is that tax deductible?

By: Donald E Maher SR

Donald E Maher SR — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:19:21 +0000

Does the purchase and installation of a large storage shed on your property qualify as a home improvement and qualify for a tax deduction