{"id":67402,"date":"2019-02-19T05:45:13","date_gmt":"2019-02-19T13:45:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=67402"},"modified":"2026-08-25T02:44:38","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T09:44:38","slug":"3-tax-deductions-for-renters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/3-tax-deductions-for-renters\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Tax Tips for Renters That Can Put Cash Back in Your Pocket"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article written by Logan Allec, a CPA and owner of the personal finance blog Money Done Right<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

You probably hear a lot about the great tax benefits that homeowners enjoy, such as the mortgage interest and property tax deductions.<\/p>\n

The question arises: as a renter, can you also deduct any of the taxes you pay<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

In some cases, you can, and if your residency corresponds to any of the following scenarios, then you will not want to miss these tips.<\/p>\n

1. See if your state offers a renter\u2019s tax credit<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know that you could get a tax credit on your state income tax return simply for paying rent during the year? It\u2019s true!<\/p>\n

However, not every state offers this benefit to renters, and those that do, often ask you to meet certain requirements. For example, to qualify for the California Renter\u2019s Credit<\/a><\/u>, there is an income threshold that you cannot exceed based on your filing status.<\/p>\n

Other states may have additional limitations based on household size and the duration of your residency in the state throughout the year.<\/p>\n

To see what options are available to you in your state, you should check out your local renters\u2019 association or consult with a tax professional who can give you all the details about your particular state.<\/p>\n

2. If you do some freelance work from your apartment, you may qualify for partial rent deduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

These days, it\u2019s not uncommon for many people to pick up some freelance work to make money<\/a><\/u> on the side.<\/p>\n

In this case, you may know that you can deduct business-related expenses against your freelance income \u2013 for example, the costs related to printing business cards or setting up your website. However, did you know that, potentially, you can deduct a part of your rent as a business expense<\/strong>?<\/p>\n

To qualify for this deduction, there must be a delimited space in your living area where you do all of your freelance work in<\/a>, and it must be used exclusively for your business activity.<\/p>\n

For instance, if you rent a 1,000-square-foot apartment for $2,000 per month and you\u2019ve partitioned off a 10-foot by 10-foot area — in other words, 100 square feet — and you use this space only for the freelance<\/a> work you do, then this is your delimited working space.<\/p>\n

Dividing 100 square feet by 1,000 square feet gives us 10%, so you may be able to deduct 10% of your rent as a \u201chome office deduction\u201d.<\/strong>\u00a0 At $2,000 for monthly rent, you\u2019re looking at $24,000 in annual rent and a potential $2,400 tax deduction.<\/p>\n

Other expenses you incur may be eligible for this deduction as well, so be sure to check with your tax professional.<\/p>\n

3. Renting out rooms could also make you eligible for tax deductions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Subletting is a form of passive income and if your lease agreement allows it, it\u2019s not an uncommon practice. Many tenants decide to rent out a space in their apartment to either long-term or short-term renters for extra cash.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re subletting, you should keep in mind that you have to report all of your rental income on your tax return<\/strong>, but you are also entitled to rental expenses.<\/p>\n

To exemplify, you may be living alone in a two-bedroom apartment and you sublet one of the bedrooms to a roommate. Apart from the bedrooms, the two of you share all common areas. In this case, you could be eligible to deduct a portion of your housing expenses such as rent, renters insurance<\/a>, utilities, and more.<\/p>\n

While as a renter you may not have the same tax breaks as a homeowner, you can still be eligible for some deductions. This is why it’s important to stay informed and keep an eye open for such opportunities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Article written by Logan Allec, a CPA and owner of the personal finance blog Money Done Right. You probably hear a lot about the great tax benefits that homeowners enjoy, such as the mortgage interest and property tax deductions. 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