topic Can I claim house expenses in Texas when I work in California? in Investors & landlords

Can I claim house expenses in Texas when I work in California?

Deol_gk — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 10:47:39 GMT

I work in state of California. I own house in Texas, I travel every month and stay in my house. It’s not rented and no income is generated from it. I pay mortgage and property tax and insurance. How can I claim in on my income tax?

Re: Can I claim house expenses in Texas when I work in California?

xmasbaby0 — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 17:12:38 GMT

You enter your mortgage interest and property tax on your federal tax return. You cannot deduct anything for the homeowner's insurance.

Go to Federal> Deductions and Credits> Your Home to enter mortgage interest, property taxes, and loan origination fees (“points”) that you paid in 2023. You should have a 1098 from your mortgage lender that shows this information. Lenders send these in January/early February.

It is very hard for a lot of people to use itemized deductions now that the standard deduction is so much higher. Your home ownership may not have any effect on your tax due or refund, especially if you purchased the house late in the year.

Standard Deduction

Your itemized deductions have to be more than your standard deduction before you will see a change in your tax owed or tax refund. The deductions you enter do not necessarily count “dollar for dollar;” many of them are subject to meeting tough thresholds—medical expenses, for example, must meet a threshold that is pretty hard to reach. The software program uses all the IRS rules that apply to the expenses you enter, and it tells you if you have enough to use your itemized deductions or if using the standard deduction is more advantageous for you. Under the new tax laws, some deductions have been capped—there is a $10,000 limit to the itemized deductions for state, local, property and sales taxes.

2023 STANDARD DEDUCTION AMOUNTS

SINGLE $13,850 (65 or older/legally blind + $1850)

MARRIED FILING SEPARATELY $13,850 (65 or older/legally blind + $1500)

MARRIED FILING JOINTLY $27,700 (65+/legally blind) ) + $1500 per spouse

HEAD OF HOUSEHOLD $20,800 (65 or older/blind) + $1850)

Since you work in CA, you must also file a CA state return. Do you also own a home in CA? Or do you rent in CA?

Re: Can I claim house expenses in Texas when I work in California?

Mike9241 — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 17:23:15 GMT

this would be a second/vacation home. so if the mortgage is secured by the property the interest may be deductible because there is a cap on mortgage debt depending on when they were taken out. Turbotax should automatically compute the limitation if any provided all the correct mortgage info is entered. Whether real taxes paid benefit you depends since there is a $10,000 limit of how much in state and local taxes can be deducted (it's $5,000 if married filing separately)

Re: Can I claim house expenses in Texas when I work in California?

Deol_gk — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 17:34:18 GMT

I do not own a house in California. I am renting place there.

Re: Can I claim house expenses in Texas when I work in California?

Deol_gk — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 17:35:09 GMT

I am renting in California. Don’t own a house there.

Re: Can I claim house expenses in Texas when I work in California?

AnnetteB6 — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:17:36 GMT

Since you own the home in Texas, you can claim mortgage interest and property taxes as part of Schedule A itemized deductions. You are allowed to claim mortgage interest for up to two properties (as mentioned by Mike9241 when he stated that this would be a second home, assuming you also owned a home in California).

There are not any additional deductions related to owning a home in one state while working in another.

@Deol_gk