Your basis includes the settlement fees and closing costs for buying property. You can't include in your basis the fees and costs for getting a loan on property. A fee for buying property is a cost that must be paid even if you bought the property for cash.
The following items are some of the settlement fees or closing costs you can include in the basis of your property.
- Abstract fees (abstract of title fees).
- Charges for installing utility services.
- Legal fees (including title search and preparation of the sales contract and deed).
- Recording fees.
- Surveys.
- Transfer taxes.
- Owner's title insurance.
- Any amounts the seller owes that you agree to pay, such as back taxes or interest, recording or mortgage fees, charges for improvements or repairs, and sales commissions.
The following items are some settlement fees and closing costs you can't include in the basis of the property.
- Casualty insurance premiums.
- Rent for occupancy of the property before closing.
- Charges for utilities or other services related to occupancy of the property before closing.
- Charges connected with getting a loan. The following are examples of these charges - a.) Discount Points, b.) Mortgage Insurance Premiums, c.) Loan Assumption Fees, d.) Credit Report Fee, e.) Appraisal required by lender.
- Fees for refinancing a mortgage.
If these costs relate to business property, items (1) through (3) are deductible as business expenses. Items (4) and (5) must be capitalized as costs of getting a loan and can be deducted over the period of the loan.
If you pay points to obtain a loan (including a mortgage, second mortgage, line of credit, or a home equity loan), don't add the points to the basis of the related property. Generally, you deduct the points over the term of the loan.
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