Get your taxes done using TurboTax

No, not on your federal tax return. In order to deduct property taxes, you must be the owner of the property against whom the taxes are assessed. If you are a condominium owner, you can deduct the property taxes that you pay for your own property plus your portion of the shared property, assuming that you get a statement from the condominium association specifying what your taxes are. But if you are a tenant, you can’t deduct property taxes even though part of your rent is used by the landlord to pay their taxes. 

 

Your state may have a tax benefit that applies to your situation. For example, New York state has a Real Property Tax Credit that returns a portion of property taxes to low income taxpayers.  Renters are allowed to qualify for this credit with the assumption that 25% of their rental payment is applied toward taxes.  But this is not an itemized deduction for property taxes, rather a special credit available for some low income tax payers.  If your state has a renters credit or a homestead credit or something similar, you may qualify. You would have to review the tax laws of your state.