What can I deduct when I sell my rental property?
Robert Miller
Updated on March 10, 2026
What Closing Costs Are Tax Deductible When Selling Rental Property?
- Appraisal fees.
- Inspections.
- Loan origination fees.
- Title fees.
- Transfer fees.
- Mortgage interest.
- Mortgage points.
- Real estate property taxes.
Can you claim cost of selling investment property?
If you sell your investment property, you are likely to be liable to pay capital gains tax (CGT). The ATO allows you to offset costs like stamp duty, any legal fees and estate agent’s commission to reduce your profit – and therefore your tax obligation.
Can you deduct mortgage from capital gains?
Typically the fees for arranging a mortgage or loan used to secure the purchase of an asset are not an allowable deduction for capital gains. Mortgage break fees are normally deductible against income tax, with some exceptions such as where they are classed as a premium.
Is the cost of selling a rental property tax deductible?
Selling a rental property? You may be able to reduce the amount of capital gains tax you’re liable for. You may be able to include in the cost base any payments you’ve made towards the maintenance and upkeep of the property while it is being rented, called capital expenses.
What tax do you pay when you sell an investment property?
Government Capital Gains Tax
When you make a profit from the sale of your property, you’re required to pay the Government Capital Gains Tax. CGT also applies to any foreign assets, such as investment properties you own, but not to your primary residence.
What expenses can I claim against Capital Gains Tax?
You can deduct certain costs from taxable gains to reduce the Capital Gains Tax you pay on your property, including: Stamp Duty paid when buying the property. Costs for improvements to the property – e.g. an extension, kitchen upgrade, etc. Certain other buying and selling costs – e.g. surveyor.
Do you have to pay capital gains when selling a rental property?
Real estate investors who aren’t aiming to cash out can put off paying capital gains taxes thanks to Section 1031 of the tax code. A Section 1031 exchange lets you sell your rental property, purchase a “ like-kind ” property and defer paying taxes at the time the exchange is made.
Can you sell rental property and use proceeds to pay mortgage?
The proceeds from the sale can be used to pay of the mortgage – but the occupancy rule applies. May 31, 2019 5:48 PM Can I sell the rental property and use the proceeds to pay off the mortgage on my primary residence without paying capital gains tax? No. The two events are not related.
How to prevent a tax hit when selling a rental property?
An effective way to reduce your tax exposure when selling a rental property is to pair the gain from the sale with a loss in another area of your investments. This is called tax-loss harvesting.
Can You claim rental property on your taxes?
There are a number of other rental property deductions you can claim if you own an investment property. Keep in mind that to claim these deductions, you need to either be currently renting out your property or be actively advertising it for rent.