Tax Help - Should I report my inherited house?

Jimmy R. in Alaska writes, "My sister and I inherited a house in 2004 from my uncle. Neither of us have ever lived in the house, nor have we rented it out. We sold the house in 2007 for $10K less that the FMV upon the death of my uncle. Do we need to report the sale to on our tax returns? Can we claim the loss?"

My first response is.............REPORT EVERYTHING!!!

Since neither of you have never lived in it, for you, the house was never a personal residence. Essentially, in your hands, it became investment property.

You must certainly report the sale. Report the sale on Schedule D.

For purchase date, since you have the property for more than a year, use the date of death. And for purchase price, use the value at date of death. PLUS….

You paid property taxes, insurance and utilities on the house all these years. You protected your investment. Did you take deductions for the property taxes? If you didn’t, then add them to the value at date of death. If you did, skip that. But add in all the other costs you were never able to deduct – insurance, utilities, gardener, etc. Hopefully, you have receipts?

Don’t forget to add all the commissions and selling costs to the cost of the house. Those will all reduce your profits, too.

Also, be sure you put a copy of the appraisal at date of death into your tax file and your sister’s, just in case you’re audited.

So your loss may be more than just the $10,000.