Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
What's the BAR Test? Betterment, Adaptation & Restoration
The BAR test—betterment, adaptation, restoration—determines when work becomes a capital improvement instead of a deductible repair for tax purposes.
Augusta Rule — Rent Your Home 14 Days Tax-Free
The Augusta rule lets you rent your personal home up to 14 days a year and keep the income tax-free — but eligibility and documentation requirements are strict.
What Auditors Ask — Your Rental Property Audit Trail Checklist
An IRS rental-property audit typically requests five categories of documents — bank statements, receipts, mileage logs, depreciation schedules, and capital-improvement records.
Rental Appliances Depreciate Over 5 Years — How MACRS Works
Rental appliances depreciate over 5 years under MACRS — a much shorter schedule than the building — letting you recover the cost faster.
How to File an Amended Return for a Missed Rental Deduction
An amended return lets you recover a missed rental deduction — you have a limited claim window, specific forms to file, and supporting docs to attach.
Are Advertising and Vacancy Costs Tax-Deductible?
Advertising costs and many vacancy-period expenses are deductible if the property is held out for rent — here's what qualifies and how to document it.
Solo 401(k) for Real Estate Investors
A Solo 401(k) can hold real estate — providing tax-advantaged returns and huge contribution limits — but the rules on prohibited transactions and self-dealing are strict.
Rental Loss Carryforward Rules Explained
Rental losses you can't use this year don't disappear — they carry forward indefinitely as suspended passive losses, available against future rental income or fully deductible at sale.
Real Estate Professional Status — How to Qualify
Qualifying as a real estate professional flips your rental activity from passive to active — letting you deduct rental losses against ordinary income without the $25K passive-loss cap.
QBI Deduction for Rental Property Owners
Rental income can qualify for the 20% Qualified Business Income deduction — but only if your rental activity rises to the level of a trade or business under IRS Section 199A.
The $25,000 Passive Loss Allowance for Landlords
Rental losses are passive by default and only offset passive income — except for the $25,000 special allowance for active participants earning under $150K, which can offset ordinary income.
Mortgage Interest Deduction Rules for 2026
The mortgage interest deduction is capped at loans up to $750K for post-2017 mortgages, and only helps if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction.
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