Personal Taxes

Cash or property you received as an inheritance, gift or bequest is not included in your income tax return.
Any interest, dividend or rental you earned on the inheritance after receipt of the inheritance is taxable.

A lump-sum payment for cancellation of your employment under the Age Discrimination and Employment Act is taxable income in the year you receive it. It is reportable on IRS Form 1040 as wages.

No. Costs associated with loss prevention, such as for burglar and/or smoke alarms, are not deductible.

Probably not. Casualty losses must be from sudden, unexpected or unusual events. Termite damage is considered gradual and progressive, and therefore not deductible.

The amount of your unreimbursed loss may be deductible. The deductible calculation is reported on IRS Form 4684. The deduction would be the amount of the loss, minus any insurance reimbursements minus $100 minus 10% of your Adjusted Gross Income Limitation. If the accident was caused by your driving drunk, then the deduction is disallowed.

There are five dependency tests that all must be met before you can claim a person as a dependent on your tax return.
The relationship, gross income, support, residence and joint return tests. Your father-in-law would qualify in the relationship test.
The relationship test includes child, adopted child, grandchild, stepchild, great-grandchild, brother or sister, son or daughter-in-law, father of mother-in-law, brother or sister-in-law, grand-parent, step-parent, stepbrother or stepsister, half-brother of half-sister, and blood relatives of uncle, aunt, niece or nephew.
Also included as a dependent is a foster child if he or she is a member of your household for the entire year except for temporary absence. Speak to your local CPA if you have a question about the relationship or the other four qualifying tests of claiming someone as a dependent on your tax return.

Yes. Expenses incurred in managing investment property are deductible even if the property is not currently producing income. You will list this deduction on Schedule E, part I expense line for auto and travel.

No. House repairs and improvements on a personal residence are not deductible in the year paid.
While the repairs are not deductible, the improvements should be added to the residence basis to be used in the eventual gain or loss on the sale of the residence calculation.
Generally, residence basis would be the initial cost plus improvements from inception. Generally, Costs for improving and repairing your rental property are deductible in the year expensed.