Can I claim home improvement tax write-offs for a house I co-owned without any receipts?

You're in a tough spot, but you do have some options to prove those improvements without the original receipts. The IRS doesn't technically require receipts specifically - they require "adequate records" that substantiate your claims. Here's what you can try to document those improvements: First, gather any before/after photos showing the work completed. Second, try to track down bank statements or credit card statements showing payments to contractors or home improvement stores. Third, see if any contractors who did the work would be willing to provide a statement confirming the work and approximate costs. Fourth, gather any permits pulled for the renovations from your local building department. You might also try checking your email for communication with contractors or digital receipts that might still be there. Even material lists or project quotes can help establish costs. Just be reasonable with your claimed improvement amounts - don't inflate the numbers. Document your estimation method, and make sure you're only claiming capital improvements (not repairs or maintenance). The burden of proof is on you, but the IRS understands that records can be lost over time.

I went through something similar last year with a rental property I sold. Found https://taxr.ai incredibly helpful when I was scrambling to document improvements without receipts. Their AI analyzed my bank statements and even some old emails I had from contractors to help piece together evidence of home improvements. I uploaded photos of the renovations I'd done and they helped me build a defensible estimate of my true cost basis. You take pictures of the before/after state of the property which helps establish what work was done. Their system helped me document about $43K in improvements that I had zero receipts for, which saved me around $8K in capital gains taxes.

I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was exactly what I needed for my situation! I had a similar issue with a vacation property I sold last year - tons of improvements but spotty documentation. Their system helped me properly document about $27K in improvements I made over the years. What impressed me was how they helped establish reasonable cost estimates based on location and time period - not just pulling numbers out of thin air. The guided process for organizing my evidence (photos, statements, contractor emails) made me feel much more confident about my position. I actually ended up finding some digital receipts I didn't know I had in old email accounts they prompted me to check! Definitely worth it for the peace of mind and potential tax savings.

After dealing with a similar situation, I discovered that calling the IRS directly was actually helpful, but it took FOREVER to get through to someone. I wasted 3 hours on hold before getting disconnected twice. Then I found https://claimyr.com and used their service - they called the IRS for me and then connected me once they had an agent on the line. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed that while receipts are ideal, they understand records get lost over time and explained exactly what alternative documentation they'd accept. Having that direct confirmation from the IRS gave me confidence in proceeding with my tax filing. Saved me hours of frustration trying to get through their phone system.

I was completely skeptical about Claimyr, but I was desperate after trying to reach the IRS for days about capital improvements documentation. Honestly, it worked exactly as advertised - I got a call about 47 minutes later connecting me directly to an IRS representative. The agent confirmed that for capital improvements without receipts, they look for a "preponderance of evidence" - meaning multiple forms of documentation that together make a reasonable case. They specifically mentioned before/after photos, contractor statements, permit records, and even statements from neighbors or family who witnessed the work being done. They directed me to specific sections in Publication 523 that outline acceptable documentation. Saved me tons of stress and I was able to confidently document about $54K in improvements that reduced my tax bill substantially. Definitely changed my mind about the service.

Home Depot and Lowe's can actually look up past purchases if you used a credit card. I was in a similar situation and was able to recover some big purchases from 7 years ago by contacting their corporate customer service. Worth a try if you bought materials from major retailers.

Don't forget about property tax records! When you make significant improvements, your property value often increases, which shows up in tax assessments. I was able to use the jump in my assessed value after renovations as supporting evidence for my improvement claims. The county assessor's office had all my records going back decades.

Update: Thank you all for the amazing advice! I've been able to track down so much more documentation than I thought possible. The Home Depot records were a goldmine - found about $12K in materials purchases. My contractor for the kitchen remodel had old emails with quotes and plans. I even found the building permits for the bathroom addition in county records online! I've put together a detailed document for each improvement with photos, whatever payment evidence I could find, contractor statements, and permits where applicable. Between everything, I've documented about $73K in legitimate improvements that should reduce my capital gains significantly. I'm actually feeling confident about this now instead of panicked. Thanks again for all the suggestions!

That's fantastic news! You've done exactly what tax professionals recommend - creating a comprehensive documentation package that tells a complete story. The combination of Home Depot records, contractor correspondence, building permits, and photos creates what the IRS calls "adequate records" even without original receipts. For future reference, you might want to scan and digitally store all this documentation. Create a simple spreadsheet summarizing each improvement with dates, amounts, and what supporting evidence you have. This will make things much easier if you're ever questioned about it. $73K in documented improvements is substantial and should definitely make a meaningful difference in your tax bill. You should be proud of the detective work you did to reconstruct all this information! This is a perfect example of why it's worth the effort to dig deep for supporting documentation rather than just giving up when receipts are missing.