I have a camper that we use as a vacation home. Can I claim any tax deductions for it?

I have a camper that we use as a vacation home. Can I claim any tax deductions for it?

A camper can produce tax breaks if it's a residence and not merely sporting equipment. The camper is treated as a residence only if it has eating, sleeping, and toilet facilities. Assuming that it has all these things, then you can treat the camper as a second home and deduct mortgage interest related to any financing of the camper (assuming the loan is secured by the camper).

If you purchased the camper this year and you itemize deductions, you can deduct state and local sales taxes paid on the purchase. Also, the vehicle registration fees for the camper may be deductible if you are in a state that treats the fees as an ad valorem tax, which is based on a percentage of the value of the property.

Note: If you purchase the camper between January 1, 2009, and November 30, 2009, and it is your principal residence, you may qualify for a first-time home buyer credit of 10% of the purchase price, up to a top credit of $8,000. You must qualify as a first-time home buyer and income limits apply. This credit, however, does not apply to the purchase of a second home.