Could I report 2 years property tax this year?

[yaohuazhuo]

I have a house in Sunnyvale California.

I payed property tax of fiscal year 2019 and 2020 at year 2019.

I did not report any property tax at year 2019 (last calendar year).

Question:

Could I report both of them this year as property tax?

[VolvoGirl · Accepted solution]

You can only report what you actually paid in 2019.  No matter what year it is for.  Not following your years. Whatever you paid in 2019 you can deduct on your 2019 return.

But Do you think you will have enough to itemize?  The Standard Deduction has increased so many people will be switching to the Standard Deduction.  And 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.

And you can only deduct Medical that’s over 7.5% of your AGI.  Also the deduction for job expenses have been suspended.

For 2019 the standard deduction amounts for line 9 are:

Single 12,200 + 1,650 for 65 and over or blind

HOH 18,350 + 1,650 for 65 and over or blind

Joint 24,400+ 1,300 for each 65 and over or blind

Married filing Separate 12,200 + 1,300 for 65 and over or blind

[David Taxman]

Like most things in taxes, it depends.  Since you are a personal taxpayer you can generally only deduct something when you pay it (not when it is incurred or still owe it).   If you paid both years in 2019... go ahead and take the deduction.