Expense Real Estate Taxes on Sched A before in-service?

[Stuart M.]

Can you put the real estate taxes on your schedule A while the property is undergoing renovations, before the property is placed in-service?  I was under the impression that you cannot, that they must be added to the basis, but then I found this post from @Steven Hamilton II:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/51/topics/42509-deducting-rehab-costs

Are there any other exceptions to this "rule" that you must capitalize all costs during the rehab?  Was this real estate tax thing true before and after the Tax Cuts Jobs Act?

[Eamonn McElroy]

@Stuart M.

I saw your other post and know you're in a difficult spot due to coronavirus, and therefore you are attempting to get your return filed as soon as possible to get a refund.

You have my sympathy, but respectfully, in your posts, in which you're soliciting advice that you're obviously going to rely upon to DIY your return, you appear to be quickly trying to jam a square peg into round hole so you can move onto the next peg.

You're not really getting an understanding of what you're doing and its obvious you're relying on incorrect information half of the time, which as a professional is a little cringey for me to observe.

I hope you figure out a well-reasoned way forward.  Amended returns a year or two down the road are often more expensive than just hiring someone to do it right the first time.  As you're putting a property into service, this year's return easily affects future year's returns.

Best wishes and best of luck.