Are homeowners' association fees tax deductible?

If you pay homeowners association (HOA) fees, you may wonder if you can deduct them from your taxes. If your home is your primary residence, you cannot deduct HOA fees from your tax return. However, if the home is a rental property, you may be able to deduct your HOA fees.

HOA fees are used to help pay for maintenance, upkeep, and general care of a community, suburb, or condominium properties. These fees are typically paid monthly, along with your mortgage, though they may also be charged quarterly or annually.

If the property is your primary residence, you can’t deduct these fees. But, if you rent out the property, you may be able to deduct all or part of these fees. If the property is a full-time rental property, you can generally deduct the fees as part of your rental expenses. If the property is only a rental for part of the year, you can deduct this portion of the fees from your taxes.

There are a few exceptions. For example, if you’re self-employed, you may be able to deduct a portion of your HOA fees from your taxes as a business expense.

To deduct your HOA fees, you’ll itemize them on Schedule E (for landlords) or Schedule C (if you’re self-employed). You’ll then file this form along with your tax return.