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Taxes Information |
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Rental Property Tax Deductions
Own residential rental properties? This article discusses how income from those properties impacts your taxes. What Constitutes Revenue? Generally, rental income is defined as any revenue you receive from the occupancy or use of residential property. Rent, obviously, is included in that revenue. Many owners are surprised to learn revenue also includes rent advancements, expenses paid by a tenant and any security deposits not returned to the tenant. In fact, revenue can also include amounts paid to cancel a lease, even if you had to sue the defendant to get it. Yeah, Yeah, But What Can I Deduct? Tax deductions associated with rental properties are strikingly similar to those found in any business. Technically, you can deduct any expense reasonably necessary to "manage, conserve or maintain" the property. Obvious deductions include mortgage payments, cleaning expenses, insurance premiums, service payments such as landscape maintenance, repairs, maintenance, etc. Overlooked rental property deductions include: 1. Expenses incurred in finding tenants, 2. Commissions paid to third parties that arrange for tenants, 3. Paying your accountant and/or lawyer, 4. Mileage for driving to and from the property [I said, "No more parties!"] 5. Depreciation of the property, 6. Depreciation of items in the property such as washing machines, furniture, etc. Imaginary Rent Deduction A few creative property owners have suggested that they should be able to deduct their customary and standard monthly rent if the property is empty. The argument goes, "If the property is empty, I am not making revenue and should be able to deduct the $1,500 that I am missing out on." At first glance, this almost makes sense. Sadly, it doesn't fly from the perspective of the IRS. Since you are not receiving revenues, your total revenues for the year will be reduced by the loss rent. You can't double dip by deducting the $1,500 from the already reduced yearly revenues. The only things you can deduct are the expenses you incur during this period, and only for so long as you are actively trying to rent the place. Rental properties are a great investment. Even more so if you stay on top of your taxes. Richard Chapo is CEO of http://www.businesstaxrecovery.com - Obtaining tax refunds for small businesses by finding overlooked tax deductions and credits through a free tax return review.
MORE RESOURCES: RIVERWOODS, Ill., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As more and more baby boomers are reaching retirement age, they'll have many factors to consider in choosing where to live in retirement, including the tax ... NEW YORK (TheStreet) - Candidate Mitt Romney wants you to believe he will lower taxes while cutting the national debt. But President Romney will need to raise taxes if he is going to have any chance of lowering U.S. debt, according to his former private equity pals. Now a strong frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, Romney has repeatedly said that cutting the national debt ... When it comes to taxes, it seems that everyone has an opinion. Whether it's the way they're spent (or misspent), or whether we should pay less (or someone else should pay more), this surprisingly feisty ... WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Small U.S. business owners are unhappy with the amount of taxes large corporations and their executives pay, a recent survey indicates. With tax season getting under way, today I'll answer reader questions about property taxes, the new Medicare surcharge starting in 2013 and how to get those old-fashioned paper tax forms. Q: Tony G. asks, "Has anything... Small business owners see corporate tax loopholes and the shifting of U.S. profits to offshore tax havens as serious problems, according to a new independent national poll. Small business owners think big corporations and the wealthy don’t pay their fair share of taxes, the poll shows. Retirees can face hefty taxation if they don't follow certain strategies when managing their money. Using these tactics will help lower the bill. These strange taxes are making everything from bagels to hot air balloon rides more expensive. Kevin Drum looks at how regressive taxes are at the state and local level, an issue that doesn’t get nearly enough attention. The proposed elimination of inheritance taxes would hit Lincoln County hard – to the tune of $550,000 a year, County Commissioner Joe Hewgley said. Hewgley testified to the Legislature on a bill that would eliminate inheritances taxes, something that Gov. Dave Heineman is fostering. |
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