Deduction on home I own and mother living in?

[Ashley829]

Upstate New York.
I own property in which I live in the main house and pay the mortgage, my mother lives in the guest house and pays nothing, no rent, no taxes...I pay her water bill, maintain the lawn, plow the driveway, and so on. Is there any type of tax deduction that I can take? She still files her own taxes, and will not let us claim her as a dependent. Can you help me?
Thank you
Diane

 

[loku]

The expenses you pay are not deductible, except for interest you pay on the mortgage and real estate taxes. Otherwise, the only tax break there would be is to claim her as a dependent. Since she will not allow that, I don't think there is any tax benefit you qualify for here.