Renters Deduction

Renters Deduction
You may be able to take the renters deduction if:

you paid rent on your principal place of residence, and
the place you rented was subject to Indiana property tax.

Your "principal place of residence" is the place where you have your true, fixed, permanent home and where you intend to return after being absent.

If you rented a manufactured home or paid rent for your manufactured home lot, you may claim the renters deduction if the above requirements are met.
Rent paid for summer homes or vacation homes is not deductible.

government owned housing;
property owned by a nonprofit organization;
student housing;
property owned by a cooperative association; and
property located outside of Indiana.

How do I report my deduction?
First, complete the information area by entering:

The address where rented if it's different from the address on the front of the return (write SAME if it is not different);
The landlord's name and address;
The total amount of rent paid; and
The number of months you lived there.

If you moved during the year or had more than one landlord, you must list the same information for each place that you rented. Attach additional pages if necessary.

How much rent can I take off?
You can deduct up to $2,500 or the amount of rent paid, whichever is less.

Example: Emily paid $4,800 in rent on her principal residence. She will claim a $2,500 renter's deduction.

Example: Bill paid $400 in rent at his first apartment, moved to another location and paid $2,300 for the remainder of the year. His deduction will be limited to $2,500 even though he paid $2,700 altogether.

Important: You must maintain copies of your rental receipts, landlord identifying information, and lease agreements as the Department can require you to provide this information.

For more information about this deduction, contact the Department to get Income Tax Information Bulletin #38.

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