Can I deduct home improvements on my tax return?

On your personal residence, the answer is usually no, although you might qualify for certain kinds of energy-related home improvements.

Home improvements may come into play when you sell your home because they're included in your home's adjusted cost basis. The bigger your basis, the smaller your capital gain, and that means less tax if your home sale profit exceeds $250,000 ($500,000 if you're filing jointly). Read more about the tax implications of home sales.

To qualify as an increase in the adjusted basis when you sell, the home improvement must:

For most people, home improvements—even major ones—won't help their taxes until the home is sold. Nevertheless, it's always a good idea to keep track of what you paid in home improvements over the years, not just for potential tax savings, but also to help justify your selling price.