If my lender is delinquent (late) on paying the 2nd half of my tax bill within that calendar year, can I still list that half of the bill on that year's taxes regardless?

[agoodman1982]

After closing on a new home and living there from July - December, I just found out that for some reason which my lender cannot explain, the 2nd half tax bill from 2021 which should have been paid out via my escrow account was not distributed to my Town's tax department. They are remedying the situation now, and so my tax bill which should have been paid in Dec 2021 will actually now be paid in Feb 2022 - as such, my 1098 form from my lender does not list my property taxes as it wasn't paid by the time the form was generated. Can I list my 2nd half property taxes on my 2021 Tax filing even though it will actually only be paid two months into 2022? This amount definitely affects my NYS refund as when I deduct or add that 2nd half tax bill amount my NYS refund amount changes.

[LeonardS · Accepted solution]

No, you can not deduct (list) your 2nd half property taxes on your 2021 Tax filing that were paid two months into 2022.  Taxes can only be deducted in the year they were paid in.

[VolvoGirl]

But next year you will have 3 payments you can deduct.  So don't forget it.