topic Can you pay 2022 & 2023 property taxes in same year to reach itemized deduction level? in Deductions & credits

Can you pay 2022 & 2023 property taxes in same year to reach itemized deduction level?

mscott2 — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 07:18:37 GMT

Our property taxes are 10K/year. Can we pay 2022 & 2023 in 2023 to get 20K property tax deduction to get us over the 12,500 personal deductions?
20K every other year vs paying each year?

Re: Can you pay 2022 & 2023 property taxes in same year to reach itemized deduction level?

VolvoGirl — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 04:10:02 GMT

Are you Single? You said ....get us over 12,500..... that is for Single. For a married Joint return the Standard Deduction is 29,500.

But if you itemize there is a limit on deducting tax paid. There is a max 10,000 limit (5,000 MFS) of property tax and state taxes "SALT". SALT is State And Local Tax. Which includes property tax, any state tax paid like for last year’s return and includes any state withholding from your W2s and any 1099s you have. And any taxes in W2 box 14 and 19 like SDI or VDI. You can only deduct up to 10,000 (5,000 MFS) for SALT State and Local Taxes.

Re: Can you pay 2022 & 2023 property taxes in same year to reach itemized deduction level?

NCperson — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 13:16:07 GMT

@mscott2 because of the SALT limitations, what you are proposing won't help you out. property tax plus state income tax exceeding $10,000 per year can not be deducted in any event,

Re: Can you pay 2022 & 2023 property taxes in same year to reach itemized deduction level?

Anonymous_ — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:53:23 GMT

Even if you could possibly find a way around the SALT limit (as mentioned), in order to be deductible the property taxes must be paid in the current tax year (2022) and assessed in the current (or a prior) tax year.

See https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1040sca#en_US_2021_publink53061xd0e738