Tax season doesn’t have to feel like a surprise attack. If you’re renting in Memphis, there are a handful of deductions and credits worth knowing about before you sit down with your tax preparer. None of this is tax advice — everyone’s situation is different — but knowing the right questions to ask can make a real difference on what you owe.
1. The home office deduction (if you work from home)
Working remotely? If you use part of your apartment exclusively for work, you may qualify for a home office deduction. The IRS calculates this based on the percentage of your home’s square footage dedicated to your workspace. For example, if your apartment is 800 square feet and you use a 100-square-foot room solely as your home office, that’s 12.5% of your rent and related expenses potentially deductible.
The key word is exclusively. A dining table where you also eat dinner doesn’t count. A dedicated room that you only use for work does. Ask your tax preparer about both the simplified method (a flat $5 per square foot, up to 300 sq ft) and the regular method to see which one benefits you more.
2. Moving expense deductions
If you moved for a new job in the past year, your moving costs might be deductible — but only if you’re an active-duty military member under orders. The 2017 tax law suspended this deduction for most civilians through 2025, and it’s extended into 2026. That said, some states still allow moving expense deductions on state returns. If you relocated to Memphis for work, bring it up with your preparer — Tennessee has no state income tax, but if you moved from a state that does, your prior state’s return might still be in play.
3. Energy-efficient home improvements and credits
Renters generally can’t claim credits for energy upgrades to a property they don’t own — but there are exceptions worth discussing. If your landlord passed the cost of certain upgrades to you as part of a written agreement, or if you installed qualifying items yourself (like window air conditioners or smart thermostats you own and will take with you), your tax preparer can tell you whether any portion qualifies. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit covers some purchases made by homeowners, but the rules are specific, so don’t assume you’re out — or that you’re in.
Also worth mentioning: if you drive an electric vehicle and charge it at your apartment, some EV-related credits may apply depending on your situation.
4. Renter’s deductions vary by state — Tennessee is different
Several states offer a renter’s credit or deduction specifically for people who pay rent instead of a mortgage. Tennessee does not have a state income tax, so there’s no state-level renter’s deduction to file. If you recently moved here from another state, however, you may still need to file a partial-year return for your previous state — and that state might have offered a renter’s credit you’d be eligible for during the months you lived there.
It’s a detail that slips through the cracks for a lot of people who relocate mid-year.
5. Keep records year-round, not just in April
This one isn’t a deduction — it’s what makes the other four actually usable. A few habits that pay off come tax time:
- Save your lease agreement and any rent payment receipts or bank records showing monthly rent paid.
- If you work from home, take photos of your dedicated workspace and document when you started using it exclusively for work.
- Keep receipts for any home-related purchases — appliances, energy upgrades, furniture for a home office — that you bought yourself and own outright.
- Note your move-in date if you relocated this year, along with any moving expenses and what prompted the move.
A folder (physical or digital) updated throughout the year takes maybe 10 minutes a month and saves you from scrambling in March trying to reconstruct a year’s worth of purchases.
Talk to a tax preparer before filing
These tips are a starting point for the conversation, not a substitute for professional advice. Tax law changes year to year, and the specifics of your lease, income, and employment situation all affect what applies to you. Memphis has plenty of local tax preparers, and many offer free or low-cost filing assistance through programs like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) for households earning under a certain threshold. The IRS maintains a locator at irs.gov if you want to find a free site near you.
Renting doesn’t automatically mean you’re out of options at tax time. It just means the options look a little different — and knowing which ones to ask about is half the work.
