Security Deposit Deduction Calculator With Useful-Life Sources
Estimate itemized deductions for carpet, paint, cleaning, appliances, pet damage, floors, fixtures, and cabinets with state deadlines beside the math.
DepositDeduct calculates a neutral worksheet amount for security deposit deductions by prorating replacement cost over useful life, subtracting wear allowance, and showing the state itemization deadline. It is built for tenants checking a charge and small landlords preparing a documented deduction list.
Built on cited useful-life and state deposit rules
DepositDeduct keeps the math separate from the law: useful-life assumptions live in one table, state return and itemization rules live in another, and every number links back to a public source.
Special Claims Guide appendix copy
Last updated: 2023-05
security deposit deductions and itemization
Last updated: 2026 review
How the calculation works
- Select the item category and read its useful life from the shared data table.
- Compute remaining life as useful life minus the item age at move-out.
- Estimate the remaining value with replacement cost multiplied by remaining life divided by useful life.
- Subtract any wear allowance and cap the result at zero.
- Apply the selected damage share and show the state return deadline and itemization notes beside the worksheet.
What is a security deposit deduction calculator?
A security deposit deduction calculator turns a disputed charge into a worksheet: documented cost, item age, useful life, normal wear allowance, damage share, state deadline, and source link. The result is not a legal ruling; it is a clearer starting point for an itemized statement or tenant response.
Worked examples
Real scenarios run through the same worksheet you’ll use. Each output is traceable to a useful-life source, state rule, or repair benchmark.
How the depreciation formula works
12 focused calculator pages
Each keyword has one URL, one assertive H1, a calculator, and a comparison table.
Useful-life source table
| Item | Useful life | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plush carpet | 5 years | HUD Appendix 5D sample life expectancy chart | HUD examples list family-unit plush carpeting at five years; elderly-unit examples list seven years. |
| Interior enamel paint | 5 years | HUD Appendix 5D sample life expectancy chart | Use for repaint charges when the record shows damage beyond ordinary fading or turnover repainting. |
| Subfloor repair after pet urine saturation | 20 years | InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart | Subfloor work is modeled as a building-component repair; use documented repair scope, not cosmetic carpet replacement. |
| Refrigerator or common kitchen appliance | 10 years | HUD Appendix 5D refrigerator life benchmark; IRS Publication 527 appliance depreciation class | HUD examples list refrigerators at ten years; IRS Publication 527 also treats appliances as depreciable rental property. |
| Cleaning labor | 1 years | State deposit statutes and itemization rules | Cleaning is a service charge, not a depreciating item. Use documented hours and reasonable rate. |
| Hardwood floor repair or refinishing | 25 years | InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart | Use repair/refinish cost when feasible; full replacement should be documented separately. |
| Pet damage repair | 7 years | HUD Appendix 5C damage examples plus item-specific useful life | Pet damage is routed to the damaged component; this default is for mixed minor fixture and surface repairs. |
| Interior door frame | 20 years | InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart | Model actual repair cost for split jambs, chewed trim, or broken casing; do not charge for ordinary scuffs. |
| Laminate or solid-surface countertop | 20 years | InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart | Use documented replacement section cost where possible; full kitchen replacement usually overstates tenant-side value. |
| Window shades, screens, and blinds | 3 years | HUD Appendix 5D sample life expectancy chart | HUD examples list shades, screens, and blinds at three years for family and elderly units. |
| Cabinet door or box repair | 20 years | InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart | Use the damaged cabinet component cost, not the cost of replacing undamaged matching cabinetry. |
State rule starting points
DepositDeduct vs. common alternatives
Forum answers and generic landlord articles usually say whether a charge sounds fair. DepositDeduct shows the reusable worksheet math, the useful-life source, and the state deadline in one place.
| Alternative | DepositDeduct difference |
|---|---|
| Reddit or forum advice | A reproducible dollar worksheet with source links instead of one-off opinions. |
| Lawyer consultation | Free first-pass math and document checklist before deciding whether legal help is worth it. |
| Landlord software ledger | Neutral tenant/landlord calculation pages focused on depreciation and deposit deductions. |