Where do I find historical depreciation on a house I sold?

[lzo]

Hi - 

Sold my home near the end of 2021.  The total profit (sales price in 2021 minus purchase price in 2012) was around $150k, so within the $250k limit.

However, it's asking me what my home depreciation claimed was since 1997.  

I think this is related to use of the home for 'home office'.  I do remember claiming depreciation on equipment I'd purchased for my home office, but I also remember calculating the sq ft used for my home office, but I'm not sure what FORM i'd find that on from previous year?  I have all my tax filings since 2012, but what specific field on which form would I look at?  I'm assuming I would total them all up and that would be my home depreciation total claimed since purchase?

[DaveF1006]

It would be recorded on form 8829. It is calculated in part 111 of the 8829. I would mention line numbers but forms may have changed during the 2012-2020 time period. 

You are correct that you will add these up and report the total of the home depreciation amount you claimed as a home office expense since purchase of the home.

[lzo]

Thank you - I don't see that form in any year that i submitted, BUT I do have form 2106 "employee home office worksheet", which has "Part IV - Actual expenses: Depreciation of your home".  This is only in the 'for your records' section - i don't see any depreciation for anything other than vehicles in my tax return.  so i guess even if i have the 2106 worksheet, as long as i don't have the 8829, i'm good?

[Carl]

Another place to look on the last tax return you claimed the home office on, is the form 4562 titled "Depreciation and Amortization Report" that prints in landscape format. Simply add up the amounts in the prior year depr column and the current year depr column to get the total depreciation taken.

Be aware that recaptured depreciation is not included in your capital gains exclusion. It gets added to your AGI and is part of your taxable income.

[DaveF1006]

Yes, look at your 2106, depreciation forms and worksheets and if there is no mention of depreciation, then you may safely assume you claimed no home office depreciation during this time.

[lzo]

So in looking through my "for my records" worksheets, etc. I see depreciation (<$1000/yr), but i don't see it in the filed documents.  So perhaps that amount was low enough that it didn't have an effect on the taxes? 

As an example, in 2017, I see "Employee Home Office Worksheet" Form 2106, where i have calculated in line 38 "Depreciation of your home" of $878.  That's included in "Allowable expenses for business use of your home" amount on the same section.  However, looking at the docs filed as part of my 2017 return, I only have 1040, Sch A, Sch C, and Form 2106, but the form 2106 filed only includes part 1, 2, 3 - vehicle expenses, no mention of home office.

[lzo]

anyone? :(

[Carl]

I see depreciation (<$1000/yr), but i don't see it in the filed documents.

Typically, the 4562 is included in the filed tax return only in the first year, last year of depreciation, and any year there is a change in any asset such as adding, removing or selling an asset.

For SCH C, look at line 13 of the SCH E form. If there's an amount there, depreciation was taken on "something".

For SCH E, look at line 18 of the SCH E. Again, if there's an amount there, then depreciation was taken for "something".