First, you will need to determine if you are a real estat...

[moosedaddy50]

we have several rentals, bought a house in 2022, are still fixing it up and probably will sell it in 2023.  I understand that we will take the price and improvements and get a cost basis, but how do we deduct incidentals like, lawn care, mortgage interest, property taxes and utilities in 2022?

[KrisD15]

Maintenance, including utilities, are not expenses until the rental is active. 

This is why you want to get a "For Rent" sign in the window ASAP. 

Once the rental is "available" it is active, even if no one is renting. 

Property taxes paid may always be added to your Schedule A before the rental is ready if you Itemize Deductions. 

Interest would only apply to Schedule E. 

SO- if the rental is not active, there is no Schedule E and no expenses. 

Here is a link to another conversation on this subject with more details. 

[Hal_Al]

@moosedaddy50  said "bought a house in 2022, are still fixing it up and probably will sell it in 2023"

It sounds like you plan to "flip" the house as opposed to renting it out. 

First, you will need to determine if you are an investor or in the house flipping business. 

For more info, in making that determination, see a similar question at: 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/3399983-tax-issues-regarding-flipping-of-a-house 

And references at:

https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/income/real-estate/flipping-houses-taxes/

https://fitsmallbusiness.com/taxes-on-flipping-houses/  https://www.lendinghome.com/blog/how-to-maximize-house-flipping-tax-benefits/

Here's a similar question on the deductibility of the expenses you described:

https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4139770-i-am-flipping-a-property-to-sale-or-rent-if-the-house-does...