Can You Deduct Foundation Repair on Taxes?

Your home is your castle, where you feel safest and most comfortable. It's also an investment that you hope will keep its value over time. And yet, for many of us, there's a major worry that we can barely admit to ourselves: our house might be sinking into the ground.

The good news is that if your foundation is indeed in need of repair, the IRS may allow you to deduct the cost of your taxes.

In order to deduct the cost of repairing your foundation, you will need to itemize your deductions.

As with most things in life, the devil is in the details. So let's take a closer look at what exactly qualifies for this deduction.
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Please note that this article is for informational purposes only. You should always consult a tax professional to ensure that you are qualified for this deduction since laws and regulations keep changing.

Is It a Home Improvement or Home Repair?

The first step is to determine whether the work you had performed on your home would be considered a home improvement or a home repair.

The IRS defines home improvements as "any work done that adds to the value of your property, prolongs its useful life, or adapts it to new uses." So, if you had your foundation repaired and it meets any of these criteria, you should be able to deduct the cost of your taxes.

On the other hand, home repairs are defined as "any work done to correct damage or maintain your property's good condition." So, if your foundation needs to be repaired to fix existing damage, you should still be able to deduct the cost of your taxes.

It's important to note that for the repair or improvement to qualify, it must have been performed on your home's "structural components".

​These include the foundation, load-bearing walls, beams, girders, and columns. So, if you had work done on your roof, gutters, or windows, you would not be able to deduct the cost of your taxes.

Is There A Home Office?

The next step is to determine whether or not you have a home office. In order to deduct the cost of repairing or improving your home, you must use it as a "principal place of business." This means that you must conduct most of your business activities from your home.

If you do have a home office, you will be able to deduct deduct repairs(a portion of the cost of repairing or improving your home). The deduction is based on the percentage of your home used for business activities.
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Be mindful that work from home has become increasingly common in recent years, so the IRS has become stricter about what qualifies as a home office. It won't count as a home office deduction if you use it for storage or if you only use it occasionally for business activities.

Do You Rent?

Repairs to your rental property are tax-deductible if they qualify as improvements. For example, finishing the basement of a rental unit for extra living space is an improvement that you can deduct while installing new appliances to improve air quality, among other things, will also be considered qualifying repairs and therefore deductible from taxes accordingly.
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To make sure these repair costs don't exceed what's coming into the pocket (i..e., profit from rental business), professional CPAs typically recommend taking photos or footage before beginning any major renovations on rental properties, so there aren't many surprises down.

FAQs

What is the depreciation of foundation repair?

The depreciation of foundation repair is the amount by which the value of an asset declines each year due to wear and tear. generally, it takes 27.5 years for a residential property.

How much does it cost to fix a foundation?

The average cost of repairing a foundation is $4,000 - $6,000.

How much does the average foundation repair cost?

The average home's foundation repair cost is between $500 and $3,000. However, the cost can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the type of repairs needed.

How long does it take to fix a foundation?

It typically takes between 2 and 4 days to fix a foundation.

Is foundation repair a capital improvement?

Foundation repair is considered a capital improvement if it increases the value of your home or prolongs its useful life.

Conclusion 

So, can you deduct foundation repair on taxes? Generally speaking, foundation repair expenses depend on the specifics of your situation.

​If the repairs are considered capital improvements, they may be deductible. However, if the repairs are simply for maintenance or upkeep, they will not be deductible. Be sure to speak with a tax professional to get a definitive answer for your situation. Also, our contractors will be able to speak with you and explain how other people are tackling this matter.

Author

​David is the lead content editor at RVA Paving Pros, a service for Richmond VA residents. In his spare time, David likes to travel, read about business and visit the finest italian restaurants in town!