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Level 4
January 12, 2026
Solved

Travel expensed when selling an inherited foreign house

  • January 12, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 3 views

Hi,

 

I had to travel overseas in 2025 to sell a vacant house I inherited in 2024.  The only purpose of the trip was to sell the property - it could not have been sold remotely from here.  No one was living in it from the owner's date of death until the sale.

 

Can the following be added to the cost basis for determining capital gain or loss: airfare, hotel, meals, local transportation to lawyer's office?

 

Thanks!

    Best answer by DaveF1006

    No, you cannot use the cost of your travel to add to the cost basis of the house. According to Publication 551, these are the some of types of cost basis allowed for the sale of a property. Traveling expenses are not included.

     

    • improvements
    • Settlement Costs
    • Selling Expenses
    • Sales tax.
    • Legal and accounting fees (when they must be capitalized).
    • Revenue stamps.
    • Recording fees.
    • Real estate taxes (if assumed for the seller).

     

     

    1 reply

    DaveF1006
    DaveF1006Answer
    Level 15
    January 14, 2026

    No, you cannot use the cost of your travel to add to the cost basis of the house. According to Publication 551, these are the some of types of cost basis allowed for the sale of a property. Traveling expenses are not included.

     

    • improvements
    • Settlement Costs
    • Selling Expenses
    • Sales tax.
    • Legal and accounting fees (when they must be capitalized).
    • Revenue stamps.
    • Recording fees.
    • Real estate taxes (if assumed for the seller).

     

     

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