What Qualifies for the Rental Deduction?
The deduction must be for rent you paid to a landlord for the rental or lease of your principal residence in Massachusetts. If two or more persons jointly rent a unit, each occupant using it as his/her principal residence is entitled to a deduction based on the amount of rent that each person paid. If the rent is paid by a third party (such as a parent) who maintains a principal residence elsewhere, no 50% rental deduction is allowed for either party. A principal residence does not include any residence for vacation, an apartment for a person on a temporary assignment or a student or faculty member who has a principal residence elsewhere. It also does not include any apartment or house in Massachusetts of a nonresident who has a legal residence in another state or country. Payment for occupying a hotel, motel or rooming house is not considered rent unless a rental agreement exists. All separately stated charges such as utilities, furnishings or parking cannot be included in rent for pu
