Home improvements in a personal residence are generally not tax deductible for federal income taxes. However, certain energy-efficient equipment and medical-related renovations may qualify for a tax credit or deduction. If you use your home solely as your personal residence, you cannot deduct the cost of home improvements. These costs are non-deductible personal expenses.
If you use your home as your main place of work, you may be able to deduct some of the home improvement expenses. To qualify as a deduction, your home office must be of regular and exclusive use, and the primary place of your business, according to the IRS standard rules for home office deduction. Unfortunately, there is no tax credit available for home improvement expenses. However, there are tax deductions for energy-efficient equipment and renewable energy resources, such as solar panels.
Several types of home improvement projects may be eligible for a tax cancellation, but it ultimately comes down to the type of remodel you are completing and whether it is classified as a repair or improvement. Home repairs such as fixing gutters or painting a room are considered general maintenance rather than capital improvements. If you qualify for this tax exemption, both repairs and improvements may be eligible, as long as they are only in the parts of your home that are used for business. Although home improvements may not qualify for a tax deduction, it is important to keep detailed records of your expenses related to any home improvement.
For example, if you use a bedroom in your home as a home office and pay a carpenter to install built-in shelving, you can depreciate the total cost as a business expense. If you qualify for this deduction, you can deduct 100% of the cost of repairs you do in your home office alone. While most home improvements aren't tax-deductible, they could generate tax benefits when you're selling your home. Even if you don't plan to sell your home next year, it's important to thoroughly document any tax-deductible home improvements you make along the way so you can get the most out of your improvements when the time comes.
The two basic requirements that qualify for home office improvements for a tax deduction are regular and exclusive use and that your home is the primary place of your business. Home office improvements are deductible over time with depreciation, and repairs are deductible within the tax year in which they are completed, as they are deemed necessary for the maintenance of your business.
