Prop Tax Deduction

[S T]

I just now noticed a question

I have several clients that own a home which is "their" personal residence, however, due to circumstances such as health are not living in the home (not converted to rental) just vacant, but still their personal residence.

Under these circumstances should we be adding the Prop Tax Deduction to Schedule L -
Also came across a situation with a taxpayer that owned a personal residence and lived in it and also owned some additional property such as second home or vacant land

So if taxpayer standard deduction exceeds Schedule A deduction, should we be mindful of not including either of the above issues for the Schedule L?

Sandy

[Gene V]

Sandy, I would say yes

Below is part of Line 7. instruction for Form L
it doesn't say it has to be your resident,

Line 7. Enter the state and local real estate
taxes you paid in 2009. Include state and
local taxes you paid on real estate you
own, but only if the taxes are based on the
assessed value of the property. Also, the
assessment must be made uniformly on
property throughout the community, and
the proceeds must be used for general
community or governmental purposes. See
Pub. 530 for more information.

[S T]

Thanks

Thanks Gene,

I don't see either where it "states" has to be the Personal Residence or Main Home.

Somehow in my "brain" I was thinking that was the only real estate tax deduction that would qualify for Schedule L, for non-itemizers.

Sandy

[Gretel]

Me too, personal residence that is. It's still hard for me to let go of this idea.

[ChEAr$]

One client has two properties, personal residence in which he has office in home and a second one. 10% of tax goes on form 8829 and 90% on schedule L to which we add
the tax on the other property.