Taking the Mystery out of Rental Property Tax Deductions
Some of the most common rental property expenses that are deductible include:
- Costs of advertising and marketing the property
- Cleaning fees paid to professional companies between tenants
- Fees paid to a professional property management company
- Premiums paid for fire, theft, flood, liability, employee health and workers compensation insurance
- Legal and professional fees paid to attorneys, accountants, and real estate investment advisors
- Interest paid on the mortgage and credit cards used for rental activities
- Utilities paid by you as the landlord
Less Common Deductions
As the leader in property management, Real Property Management Indianapolis Metro has put together a list of rental property tax deductions that are not so obvious and are often overlooked by landlords. Taking these deductions could be the difference between you turning a profit on the rental property and losing money.
Local Travel Expenses
Driving by your rental property for an inspection or to the hardware store to pick up the part you need to fix the leak under the kitchen sink? Don’t forget to track the miles driven in your car, these can become deductions in one of two ways:
- Use the exact amount paid (for gas, upkeep, and repairs on the vehicle).
- Use the standard mileage deduction as determined by the IRS.
This is one area that Indianapolis property managers need to be careful in, as the IRS classifies repairs and improvements as different categories, capital expenses and operating expenses. Repairs are defined as anything that keeps the property in good working order-such as replacing a broken window or fixing a leaky faucet. However, if you instead choose to replace all windows with double-pane or energy efficient glass, this is an improvement that will extend the life of the property over the years. While the costs of repairs are deductible, the costs associated with improvements must instead be depreciated.
Depreciation
Landlords can recover the cost associated with acquiring real estate through the use of depreciation that allows them to deduct a small portion of the costs over a period of many years. Depreciation starts when the home is ready for rent, even if tenants are not occupying it, and stops either when you have recovered the cost of the home or you stop renting the property.
Casualty & Theft
If the rental property was damaged due to a natural disaster, you may be able to deduct a portion of your loss. The amount deductible is determined by how much of the property was damaged, and how much of the loss was covered by insurance
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