Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
How to Tighten Wobbly Deck Stairs Safely (and Deduct the Cost)
Wobbly deck stairs usually trace back to loose stringers or rotted fasteners, and for landlords the repair cost is almost always a same-year deduction, not a capital improvement.
How to Handle Repairs Found at Move-Out — Tax Rules for 2026
A $2,500 de minimis safe harbor lets many landlords expense move-out repairs immediately instead of depreciating them over years.
Do You Need a Fire Escape Ladder for Upstairs Bedrooms in 2026?
Building codes require a second way out of upstairs bedrooms, and a $2,500 de minimis safe harbor can make a fire escape ladder a same-year deduction.
7 Places Burglars Look First and How Landlords Can Beat Them
Burglars check 7 predictable spots first, and landlords who upgrade security can often expense the cost under the $2,500 de minimis safe harbor.
Year-End Tax Document Checklist for Landlords (2026)
A short year-end tax document checklist lets you hand your CPA clean records in January instead of playing phone-tag in March.
Collect W-9s Before You Pay — Not in January
Collecting a W-9 before you pay a vendor prevents the January scramble to file 1099s — here's the four-step routine that keeps you compliant.
Which Rental Utilities Are Tax Deductible in 2026?
Utilities you pay on a rental property are fully deductible — but only if you're the one writing the check and the property is held for rent.
Travel Expenses to Your Rental — What's Deductible in 2026?
Trips to your rental can be deductible if the primary purpose is business — IRS rules hinge on purpose, documentation, and which costs you claim.
Are Tenant Screening Costs Tax Deductible? 2026 Guide
Tenant screening costs — credit checks, background reports, eviction searches — are ordinary rental expenses. Application fees you charge are income.
Tax Extension — What It Doesn't Extend (2026)
A tax extension moves your filing deadline to October, but you still owe estimated tax by April — here's what changes and what doesn't.
Startup Costs for Your First Rental — IRS Rules Explained
The IRS treats startup costs before your first rental is placed in service differently than ongoing expenses — a specific deduction amount applies, then amortization.
Are Software Subscriptions Deductible for Landlords?
Software and subscription costs used to run your rentals are generally deductible as ordinary business expenses on Schedule E.
Get tax-season tips by email
Deduction checklists and filing-deadline guides for homeowners and landlords. No schedule, no spam — unsubscribe anytime.
Prefer to dive in? Get started free →