Today in 1862, Abraham Lincoln signed off on income tax and the IRS. With Independence Day just around the corner, it's a good time to look into keeping those hard earned dollars where they belong -- at home. First, check closing statements when you purchase or refinance a home. Some expenses, like property tax, are deductible. Others, like closing costs, title fees and commissions add to the cost of a home, lowering gain when you sell. Keep receipts for home improvements. They add to the cost of your home, too, again lowering gain when you sell. Besides deducting interest paid and property taxes, the taxpayer relief act of ?97 waives $500,000 of gain on home sales if you're married and $250,000 if you're single. This can be done every two years as long as you've lived there for two of the last five years. So discuss these tax breaks with your accountant and start making April 15th Independence Day too. And that's the On The House tip for today.