Paid property tax every month going to escrow from my pocket in 2017. Mortgage company paid my property taxes in 2018. Can i deduct the payments for property taxes?

[husband10]

Bought house in April 2017

Made payments for home insurance and property taxes with principle+ interest amount every month. I know both home insurance are not tax deductible nor the principle amount.

I can deduct the interest i paid + any points i paid at home closing date from my 2017 taxes.

As i paid monthly payments in 2017 which included escrow payments, which included "payment towards property taxes" every time, can I deduct the I paid in 2017,going into that escrow account for property taxes, upto Dec 2017 end?

My mortgage company paid first payment of my 2017 property tax in Feb 2018 and 2nd payment for my 2017 property taxes will be paid in May 2018.

I know they paid in 2018 i.e. paying 2017 property taxes in 2018 year by the mortgage company using my escrow account. BUT, i paid property taxes "going to escrow" from my own pocket every month in 2017 for whole year starting April 2017, shouldnt this be deductible when I file my 2017 taxes and I can show I paid X amount every month in 2017 april onwards till Dec 2017 end?

[MinhT]

The amounts of property taxes you paid into escrow every month are only provisions for the payment of property taxes, and not actual payments of property taxes.

You cannot deduct the amounts paid intoescrow as property taxes. You can only deduct in the year escrow actually pays out property taxes on your behalf, i.e. in 2018.

[husband10]

Thanks. But it's very bad that i made payments going out every month in 2017, but now i can't deduct it from my 2017 taxes.

[MinhT]

Unfortunately, this is the rule as the IRS only allows the deduction of property taxes actually paid to the taxing authority.

[husband10]

Thanks. Very odd. I should have not paid that money to escrow then, instead i should have used that money to pay the county myself in advance or before Dec 31st 2017 end of each year myself if the county allows that. In any case, if i paid that property tax myself, i could have saved money for lowering my interest by paying property tax money every month towards my principle amount as extra principle amount, to Lower my total interest over time and finally paying the county the taxes, wherever they wanted in one shot payment instead of worrying about this escrow confusion