In past years, I thought I remembered getting some kind of “Rent Paid Certificate” from my landlord. I didn’t get anything this year and now I am thinking I could have received a tax credit for this. Anybody got the scoop on this? What is a leasor’s responsibility in sending this out? Any help would be much appreciated!
I’ve never received such a certificate and I’ve not seen such a deduction for US federal taxes. BUT IANA accountant, tax preparer or landlord and I only file personal taxes, so don’t know if there is a business deduction for rent. Also, I don’t know where you live, but I’ve rented only in the US - Tennessee, Mississippi and Georgia at various times.
3 year renter in Georgia, never even heard of it.
Low- to middle-income California renters can get a $60 credit. No receipt required, you just provide your landlord’s contact info on the appropriate workshop.
The program in California doesn’t open for filing until the summertime though. In 2003, you had to file between July and October.
With the State budget crisis here, I don’t know if the program will be funded again.
Where do you live? It would probably be best to look up your state tax laws. For instance, I’m in Minnesota and recieved a rent paid certificate. I can use it to claim a property tax refund (I haven’t filled it out, but I imagine I would multiply the rent I paid by some factor to figure how much of it went toward the property tax of my apartment). However, there are income restrictions in order to get the refund as a renter.
Rent is (at least partially) deductible in Massachusetts, but no certificate is required, as far as I know.