Comments on: Should You Be Saving Those Home Improvement Receipts?

By: Garran

Garran — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:22:09 +0000

In your scenario there would be no tax on the sale of your house, provided it is your principal residence.
You receive a principal residence sale exclusion of $500,000 ($250,000 if single), therefore your taxes would be computed ONLY on the profit in excess of the exclusion.

You are correct in which any improvements will add to the basis of the property.
If the property is owned jointly by husband and wife, upon the death of either party the survivor can elect for a Step-Up Basis Valuation adjustment to bring their interest up to market value.

By: Garran

Garran — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:21:17 +0000

In your scenario there would be no tax on the sale of your house, provided it is your principal residence.
You receive a principal residence sale exclusion of $250,000 ($125,000 if single), therefore your taxes would be computed ONLY on the profit in excess of the exclusion.

By: Morfydd

Morfydd — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 19:58:58 +0000

One other reason to keep your receipts is that for states that allow you to deduct sales tax in lieu of state income tax, it is calculated as either:

–As found on all receipts for the year

–A generic number based on your AGI, PLUS tax paid on new vehicles PLUS tax paid on home improvement materials. (No labor costs allowed.)

In the second case (which almost everyone who itemizes in Washington State chooses), it’s worth a few bucks to save even small home improvement receipts.

By: Teri

Teri — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:45:02 +0000

Not necessarily. My house has gone up $400k in the course of 3 years. If I were single I would have to pay taxes if I sold it today. (A LOT of taxes!).

I think as a good rule it is good to keep receipts and track (you never know when tax laws will change or if your house will appreciate $250k if you are going to stay there 30 years - certainly happens).

With the IRS I think if you kept a spreadsheet and the improvements still existed in your house (they could verify that they existed), you would probably be OKAY. But more proof is always better. I would personally keep receipts. Otherwise you have to jump through more hoops to prove your claim and/or they can deny your cost basis calculation.

That being said, these days the IRS is very generous with the home exemption, etc. If you move before 2 years due to “unforeseen circumstances” pretty much any excuse will do to keep a fraction of your exemption. This is not a highly audited area (for now). Things could change with the real estate boom, but for now the IRS doesn’t really seem intent on auditing this area. So maybe there is no need to keep all receipts BUT if the wind changed you’ll be glad you did.

By: Mike D.

Mike D. — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 11:59:05 +0000

Stein is correct,if you have lived there at least 2 years you are wasting your time tracking expenses.

By: Stein

Stein — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 03:01:00 +0000

I don’t know that this advice is sound. Using his example, if you make $50k on your house, you don’t pay a penny of taxes as long as you have lived there 2 of the last 5 years (250k is exempt for singles and 500k for married couples). If you are going to make more than that on your house, it may make some sense to track the larger things.

If you inherit property, your basis is the fair market value at the time of transfer, regardless of what was paid or improved, and unless you are inheriting a huge estate, you won’t pay taxes on that either.

By: Karen

Karen — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 02:10:30 +0000

I’m just curious, does the IRS require paper receipts, or would scans (saved on your computer) be acceptable? How about entries in a spreadsheet or a program like Quicken? It doesn’t really apply to me yet, since I don’t own a home, but just wondering.