Earnest money is a deposit you make on a home at the time you submit a contract offer. This deposit isn't among the home expenses that you can deduct on your federal tax return.
Applied Earnest Deposit
Your earnest money deposit is intended to demonstrate the seriousness of your purchase offer to a home seller. When the seller accepts an offer, the earnest money goes into an escrow account until the property closing. At the time of the close, the amount reduces your down payment due. IRS Publication 530 specifically notes that "earnest money" isn't among the deductible home expenses.
Forfeited Earnest Money
In many cases, if you breach a purchase offer and don't close on the property, the seller is entitled to keep the earnest deposit. In addition to stating that the earnest money isn't deductible, IRS Publication 530 specifically notes that "forfeited deposits" aren't tax-deductible on your tax return.
