Chapter 16

Deductions for Taxes

If you itemize deductions on Schedule A, you may deduct your 2013 payments of state, local, and foreign income taxes and real property taxes, as well as state and local personal property taxes. See 16.3 for state and local general sales taxes.

To increase your deduction for state and local taxes, consider making a year-end prepayment of estimated tax liability. You also may be able to increase withholdings from your pay to increase your deduction. If you pay transfer taxes on the sale of securities or investment real estate, the taxes are not deductible. However, they increase your cost basis when figuring your profit or loss.

Taxes paid in operating a business are generally deductible, except for sales taxes, which are added to the cost of the property.

If your adjusted gross income for 2013 exceeds the threshold for your filing status, your deduction for taxes is subject to the reduction of itemized deductions (13.7).

16.1 Deductible Taxes

If you itemize deductions for 2013 on Schedule A (Form 1040), you may deduct your 2013 payments of:

  • State, local, and foreign income taxes
  • State, local, and foreign real property taxes ...

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