I paid my 2018 property tax late in 2019. May I claim in the 2018 return or wait for the 2019 return? Thank you

[KatrinaB · Accepted solution]

You are required to deduct the property tax in the year it is paid. Therefore, you will need to claim the amount paid next year on your 2019 tax return.

[ScruffyCurmudgeon]

Almost all Taxpayers account and file for taxes as "Cash Basis" taxpayers, meaning that you account and report all income received in the year received and all expenses in the year actually paid, whether or not the expense was for that year or paid in advance or paid in arrears.

This is in contrast to many businesses that use "Accrual Accounting."