@Hi Palms wrote:
@Opus 17 wrote:
Property taxes can be deducted by the person who pays them if that person is a legal owner or co-owner (on the deed).
They can also be deducted by an equitable owner provided that equitable owner is responsible for paying the taxes.
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2008/oct/equitableownerequalsdeduction
I disagree to the extent that the regulations specifically include "equitable owner" for the mortgage interest deduction, but not the property tax deduction, so the Tax Court seems to have gone outside the letter of the regulations, and Tax Court cases don't set binding precedent. (Although they can suggest that other Tax Courts will follow the same thinking, it's not binding.). Taxpayers should always hire their own professional for borderline cases.
