topic Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year in Investors & landlords

Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year

wleuter — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:24:21 GMT

I made some major home improvements after purchasing my house. Three years later, I began to rent my house partly in a year. Can the past home improvements bring any tax benefit / deduction in the renting year? Thanks!

Re: Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year

Critter-3 — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 11:31:19 GMT

You will depreciate the home and the cost basis is the lesser of the fair market value at the time of the conversion OR the adjusted cost basis ( original purchase price + cost to buy + improvements while you owned the property - any adjustments like credits or prior depreciation taken ).

Re: Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year

wleuter — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 16:21:12 GMT

@Critter-3

Thanks for your answer.

So it won't bring any tax benefit for the year I rent the house, right?

Re: Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year

VolvoGirl — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 16:29:48 GMT

Well it can increase the depreciation. Improvements add to the cost that is depreciated. Here are some links

What expenses can I deduct
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2569433-what-kinds-of-rental-property-expenses-can-i-deduct

FAQ on Rental Improvements and Depreciation
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2900280-how-do-i-handle-capital-improvements-and-depreciation-for-my-rental

What is Rental Depreciation?
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/2569432-what-is-rental-depreciation-and-how-does-it-differ-from-an-expense

Rental Property Taxes
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3826672-can-i-deduct-the-property-real-estate-taxes-on-a-rental-property

Read pub 527 on Rental Property….
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p527.pdf

Re: Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year

wleuter — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 16:41:55 GMT

@VolvoGirl

Thanks for your answer.

So even the home improvements happened a couple of years ago, I can still use it to increase the depreciation for my last year's tax deduction?

Re: Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year

wleuter — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:05:12 GMT

@VolvoGirl

Can you take a look at this reply when you get a chance?

Since I rented my house for the first time in 2022 and report my rental for the first time, just want to make sure if I can use home improvements which were done in 2020 to to calculate my property depreciation for my tax return?

Thank you very much!

Re: Question about home improvements which I did a couple of years ago before I rented my house partly in a year

Opus 17 — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 17:48:40 GMT

@wleuter wrote:

@VolvoGirl

Thanks for your answer.

So even the home improvements happened a couple of years ago, I can still use it to increase the depreciation for my last year's tax deduction?

Basically, but it depends on the circumstances.

When you place the house in service as a rental, you must list the value for depreciation. You depreciate the property over 27.5 years. The larger the value you can list for depreciation, the more of a deduction you can take.

The value you use for depreciation is either:

a. your adjusted cost basis, or

b. the present fair market value, whichever is less,

c. minus the cost of the land (since land does not depreciate).

Adjusted cost basis is the original purchase price, plus the value of permanent improvements (but not repairs). Items that can be used to adjust the cost basis are listed in publication 523 on page 8.

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-523

For example, suppose the house cost $100,000, you remodeled the kitchen for $20,000, the portion of the original purchase price attributed to the land was $15,000, and the present market value is $150,000. The basis you list for depreciation is ($100,000 minus $15,000 plus $20,000)= $105,000.