52715052WResidential
Rental
Property(Including
Rental of
Vacation Homes)Reminder1Introduction1Rental Income2Rental Expenses2Repairs and Improvements3Other Expenses3Condominiums and Cooperatives4Not Rented for Profit5Property Changed to Rental Use5Renting Part of Property5Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home)5Dwelling Unit Used as Home6Figuring Days of Personal Use6How To Divide Expenses8How To Figure Rental Income and Deductions8Depreciation8MACRS9MACRS Depreciation Under GDS12Optional Tables13MACRS Depreciation Under ADS13Casualties and Thefts13Limits on Rental Losses14At-Risk Rules14Passive Activity Limits14How To Report Rental Income and Expenses16Schedule E (Form 1040)16How To Get Tax Help18Index20ReminderPhotographs of missing children.Missing children, photographs of
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This publication discusses rental income and expenses, including depreciation, and explains how to report them on your return. It also covers
casualty losses on rental property and the passive activity and at-risk rules.
Sale of rental property.Gains and losses:Sale of rental propertySale of property:Gain or loss
For information on how to figure and report any gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of your rental property, get Publication 544, Sales
and Other Dispositions of Assets.
Sale of main home used as rental property.Sale of property:Main home
For information on how to figure and report any gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of your main home that you also used as rental
property, get Publication 523, Selling Your Home.
Comments and suggestions.Comments on publicationSuggestions for publication
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Internal Revenue Service
Individual Forms and Publications Branch
SE:W:CAR:MP:T:I
1111 Constitution Ave. NW, IR-6406
Washington, DC 20224
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Tax questions.
If you have a tax question, visit
www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. We cannot answer tax questions at either
of the addresses listed above.
Ordering forms and publications.
Visit
www.irs.gov/formspubs to download forms and publications, call 1-800-829-3676, or write to the National Distribution Center at the
address shown under How To Get Tax Help in the back of this publication.
Publication463Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses534Depreciating Property Placed in Service Before 1987535Business Expenses547Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts 551Basis of Assets925Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules946How To Depreciate PropertyForm (and Instructions)Depreciation and AmortizationElection To Postpone Determination as To Whether the Presumption Applies That an Activity Is Engaged in for ProfitPassive Activity Loss LimitationsSupplemental Income and Loss
See How To Get Tax Help at the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and forms.
Rental Income
You generally must include in your gross income all amounts you receive as rent. Rental income is any payment you receive for the use or occupation
of property. In addition to amounts you receive as normal rent payments, there are other amounts, discussed later, that may be rental income.
When to report.Rental income:Reporting
When you report rental income on your return depends on whether you are a cash basis taxpayer or use an accrual method.
Accounting methods:Cash methodAccounting methods:Constructive receipt of incomeCash method taxpayersConstructive receipt of incomeIf you are a cash basis taxpayer, you report rental income on your return for the year you
actually or constructively receive it. You are a cash basis taxpayer if you report income in the year you receive it, regardless of when it was
earned. You constructively receive income when it is made available to you, for example, by being credited to your bank account.
Accounting methods:Accrual methodAccrual method taxpayersIf you use an accrual method, you generally report income when you earn it, rather than when you receive
it. You generally deduct your expenses when you incur them, rather than when you pay them.
Accounting methods:Constructive receipt of incomeConstructive receipt of incomeFor more information about when you constructively receive income and accrual methods of
accounting, see Publication 538, Accounting Periods and Methods.
Advance rent is any amount you receive before the period that it covers. Include advance rent in your rental income in the year you receive it
regardless of the period covered or the method of accounting you use.
Example.
You sign a 10-year lease to rent your property. In the first year, you receive $5,000 for the first year's rent and $5,000 as rent for the last
year of the lease. You must include $10,000 in your income in the first year.
Do not include a security deposit in your income when you receive it if you plan to return it to your tenant at the end of the lease. But if you
keep part or all of the security deposit during any year because your tenant does not live up to the terms of the lease, include the amount you keep
in your income in that year.
Advance rent:Security depositsIf an amount called a security deposit is to be used as a final payment of rent, it is advance rent.
Include it in your income when you receive it.
Payment for canceling a lease.Leases:Cancellation paymentsRental income:Cancellation of lease payments
If your tenant pays you to cancel a lease, the amount you receive is rent. Include the payment in your income in the year you receive it regardless
of your method of accounting.
Expenses paid by tenant.Rental expenses:Tenant, paid by
If your tenant pays any of your expenses, the payments are rental income. You must include them in your income. You can deduct the expenses if they
are deductible rental expenses. See Rental Expenses, later, for more information.
Example 1.
Your tenant pays the water and sewage bill for your rental property and deducts it from the normal rent payment. Under the terms of the lease, your
tenant does not have to pay this bill. Include the utility bill paid by the tenant and any amount received as a rent payment in your rental income.
You can deduct the utility payment made by your tenant as a rental expense.
Example 2.
While you are out of town, the furnace in your rental property stops working. Your tenant pays for the necessary repairs and deducts the repair
bill from the rent payment. Include the repair bill paid by the tenant and any amount received as a rent payment in your rental income. You can deduct
the repair payment made by your tenant as a rental expense.
Property or services.Personal property:Rental income fromRental income:Property received from tenantRental income:Services received from tenant
If you receive property or services, instead of money, as rent, include the fair market value of the property or services in your rental income.
If the services are provided at an agreed upon or specified price, that price is the fair market value unless there is evidence to the contrary.
Example.
Your tenant is a painter. He offers to paint your rental property instead of paying 2 months' rent. You accept his offer.
Include in your rental income the amount the tenant would have paid for 2 months' rent. You can deduct that same amount as a rental expense for
painting your property.
Lease with option to buy.Rental income:Lease with option to buy
If the rental agreement gives your tenant the right to buy your rental property, the payments you receive under the agreement are generally rental
income. If your tenant exercises the right to buy the property, the payments you receive for the period after the date of sale are considered part of
the selling price.
Rental of property also used as a home.Rental expenses:Home, property also used asRental income:Used as home
If you rent property that you also use as your home and you rent it fewer than 15 days during the tax year, do not include the rent you receive in
your income and do not deduct rental expenses. However, you can deduct on Schedule A (Form 1040) the interest, taxes, and casualty and theft losses
that are allowed for nonrental property. See Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home), later.
Part interest.Part interest:IncomeRental income:Part interest
If you own a part interest in rental property, you must report your part of the rental income from the property.
This section discusses expenses of renting property that you ordinarily can deduct from your rental income. It includes information on the expenses
you can deduct if you rent a condominium or cooperative apartment, if you rent part of your property, or if you change your property to rental use.
Depreciation, which you can also deduct from your rental income, is discussed later under Depreciation.
When to deduct.
You generally deduct your rental expenses in the year you pay them.
If you hold property for rental purposes, you may be able to deduct your ordinary and necessary expenses (including depreciation) for managing,
conserving, or maintaining the property while the property is vacant. However, you cannot deduct any loss of rental income for the period the property
is vacant.
You can deduct your ordinary and necessary expenses for managing, conserving, or maintaining rental property from the time you make it available
for rent.
You can begin to depreciate rental property when it is ready and available for rent. See Placed-in-Service Date under Depreciation,
later.
Expenses for rental property sold.Rental expenses:Sale of propertySale of property:Expenses
If you sell property you held for rental purposes, you can deduct the ordinary and necessary expenses for managing, conserving, or maintaining the
property until it is sold.
Personal use of rental property.Allocation of expenses:Personal use of rental property
If you sometimes use your rental property for personal purposes, you must divide your expenses between rental and personal use. Also, your rental
expense deductions may be limited. See Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home), later.
Part interest.Part interest:Expenses
If you own a part interest in rental property, you can deduct your part of the expenses that you paid.
If you are a cash basis taxpayer, you do not report uncollected rent. Because you do not include it in your income, you cannot deduct it.
If you use an accrual method, you report income when you earn it. If you are unable to collect the rent, you may be able to deduct it as a business
bad debt. See chapter 11 of Publication 535 for more information about business bad debts.
<ROM>Table 1. </ROM>Examples of ImprovementsCaution: Work you do (or have done) on your home that does not add much to either the value or the life of the property,
but rather keeps the property in good condition, is considered a repair, not an improvement.
AdditionsBedroom
Bathroom
Deck
Garage
Porch
Patio
Lawn & GroundsLandscaping
Driveway
Walkway
Fence
Retaining wall
Sprinkler system
Swimming pool
MiscellaneousStorm windows, doors
New roof
Central vacuum
Wiring upgrades
Satellite dish
Security system Heating & Air ConditioningHeating system
Central air conditioning
Furnace
Duct work
Central humidifier
Filtration system
PlumbingSeptic system
Water heater
Soft water system
Filtration system
Interior ImprovementsBuilt-in appliances
Kitchen modernization
Flooring
Wall-to-wall carpeting
InsulationAttic
Walls, floor
Pipes, duct work
Improvements:RepairsTables and figures:Improvements, examples of (Table 1)ImprovementsRental expenses:Improvements
Repairs and ImprovementsRepairs:ImprovementsRental expenses:RepairsRepairs
You can deduct the cost of repairs to your rental property. You cannot deduct the cost of improvements. You recover the cost of improvements by
taking depreciation (explained later).
Separate the costs of repairs and improvements, and keep accurate records. You will need to know the cost of improvements when you sell or
depreciate your property.
Repairs.
A repair keeps your property in good operating condition. It does not materially add to the value of your property or substantially prolong its
life. Repainting your property inside or out, fixing gutters or floors, fixing leaks, plastering, and replacing broken windows are examples of
repairs.
Rental expenses:RepairsRepairsIf you make repairs as part of an extensive remodeling or restoration of your property, the whole job is an
improvement.
Improvements.
An improvement adds to the value of property, prolongs its useful life, or adapts it to new uses. Table 1 shows examples of many improvements.
Capital expenditures:ImprovementsImprovementsRental expenses:ImprovementsIf you make an improvement to property, the cost of the improvement must be capitalized. The capitalized cost
can generally be depreciated as if the improvement were separate property.
Other Expenses
In addition to depreciation and the cost of repairs, you can deduct the following expenses from your rental income.
Advertising.
AdvertisingRental expenses:Advertising
Cleaning and maintenance.
Cleaning and maintenanceRental expenses:Cleaning and maintenance
Rental expenses:Travel expensesTravel and transportation expenses:Rental expenses
Rental payments.
Rental expenses:Rental payments
Local transportation expenses.
Rental expenses:Local transportation expensesTravel and transportation expenses:Local transportation expenses Some of these expenses are discussed next.
Rental payments for property.
You can deduct the rent you pay for property that you use for rental purposes. If you buy a leasehold for rental purposes, you can deduct an equal
part of the cost each year over the term of the lease.
Rental of equipment.Equipment rental expenseLeases:Equipment leasingRental expenses:Equipment rental
You can deduct the rent you pay for equipment that you use for rental purposes. However, in some cases, lease contracts are actually purchase
contracts. If so, you cannot deduct these payments. You can recover the cost of purchased equipment through depreciation.
Insurance premiums paid in advance.Insurance:Premiums paid in advanceRental expenses:Insurance
If you pay an insurance premium for more than one year in advance, each year you can deduct the part of the premium payment that will apply to that
year. You cannot deduct the total premium in the year you pay it.
Local benefit taxes.Capital expenditures:Local benefit taxesTaxes:Local benefit taxes
Generally, you cannot deduct charges for local benefits that increase the value of your property, such as charges for putting in streets,
sidewalks, or water and sewer systems. These charges are nondepreciable capital expenditures. You must add them to the basis of your property. You can
deduct local benefit taxes if they are for maintaining, repairing, or paying interest charges for the benefits.
You can deduct mortgage interest you pay on your rental property. Chapter 5 of Publication 535 explains mortgage interest in detail.
Expenses paid to obtain a mortgage.Capital expenditures:Mortgages, payments to obtainMortgages
Certain expenses you pay to obtain a mortgage on your rental property cannot be deducted as interest. These expenses, which include mortgage
commissions, abstract fees, and recording fees, are capital expenses. However, you can amortize them over the life of the mortgage.
Form 1098.Form 1098:Mortgage interest
If you paid $600 or more of mortgage interest on your rental property to any one person, you should receive a Form 1098, Mortgage Interest
Statement, or similar statement showing the interest you paid for the year. If you and at least one other person (other than your spouse if you file a
joint return) were liable for, and paid interest on, the mortgage, and the other person received the Form 1098, report your share of the interest on
Schedule E (Form 1040), line 13. Attach a statement to your return showing the name and address of the other person. In the left margin of Schedule E,
next to line 13, enter See attached.
Fees:Loan origination feesInterest payments:Loan origination feesLoans:Origination feesThe term points is often used to describe some of the charges paid by a borrower to take out a loan
or a mortgage. These charges are also called loan origination fees, maximum loan charges, or premium charges. If any of these charges (points) are
solely for the use of money, they are interest.
Discount, bonds and notes issued atOriginal issue discount (OID)Original issue discount (OID)Points paid when you take out a loan or mortgage result in original issue discount
(OID). In general, the points (OID) are deductible as interest unless they must be capitalized. How you figure the amount of points (OID) you can
deduct each year depends on whether or not your total OID, including the OID resulting from the points, is insignificant or de minimis. If
the OID is not de minimis, you must use the constant-yield method to figure how much you can deduct.
De minimis OID.
The OID is de minimis if it is less than one-fourth of 1% (.0025) of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of
full years from the date of original issue to maturity (the term of the loan).
If the OID is de minimis, you can choose one of the following ways to figure the amount you can deduct each year.
On a constant-yield basis over the term of the loan.
On a straight line basis over the term of the loan.
In proportion to stated interest payments.
In its entirety at maturity of the loan.
You make this choice by deducting the OID in a manner consistent with the method chosen on your timely filed tax return for the tax year in
which the loan is issued.
Example of de minimis amount.
On January 1, 2005, you took out a loan for $100,000. The loan matures on January 1, 2015 (a 10-year term), and the stated principal amount of the
loan ($100,000) is payable on that date. An interest payment of $10,000 is payable to the bank on January 2 of each year, beginning on January 2,
2006. When the loan was made, you paid $1,500 in points to the bank. The points reduced the issue price of the loan from $100,000 to $98,500,
resulting in $1,500 of OID. You determine that the points (OID) you paid are de minimis based on the following computation.
Redemption price at maturity (principal amount of the loan)$100,000Multiplied by: The term of the loan in complete years× 10Multiplied by× .0025De minimis amount$ 2,500
The points (OID) you paid ($1,500) are less than the de minimis amount. Therefore, you have de minimis OID and you can
choose one of the four ways discussed earlier to figure the amount you can deduct each year. Under the straight line method, you can deduct $150 each
year for 10 years.
Constant-yield method.
If the OID is not de minimis, you must use the constant-yield method to figure how much you can deduct each year.
You figure your deduction for the first year in the following manner.
Determine the issue price of the loan. Generally, this equals the proceeds of the loan. If you paid points on the loan, the issue price
generally is the difference between the proceeds and the points.
Multiply the result in (1) by the yield to maturity.
Subtract any qualified stated interest payments from the result in (2). This is the OID you can deduct in the first year.
To figure your deduction in any subsequent year, you start with the adjusted issue price. To get the adjusted issue price, add to the issue price
any OID previously deducted. Then follow steps (2) and (3) above.
The yield to maturity (YTM) is generally shown in the literature you receive from your lender. If you do not have this information, consult your
lender or tax advisor. In general, the YTM is the discount rate that, when used in computing the present value of all principal and interest payments,
produces an amount equal to the principal amount of the loan.
Qualified stated interest (QSI) is stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than another loan of the issuer) at
least annually over the term of the loan at a single fixed rate.
Example of constant yield.
The facts are the same as in the previous example. The yield to maturity on your loan is 10.2467%, compounded annually.
You figure the amount of points (OID) you can deduct in 2005 as follows.
Principal amount of the loan$100,000Minus: Points1,500Issue price of the loan$ 98,500Multiplied by: YTM× .102467Total10,093Minus: QSI10,000Points (OID) deductible in 2005$ 93
You figure the deduction for 2006 as follows.
Issue price$98,500Plus: Points (OID) deducted in 200593Adjusted issue price$98,593Multiplied by: YTM× .102467Total10,103Minus: QSI10,000Points (OID) deductible in 2006$ 103
Loan or mortgage ends.Mortgages:End of, OID
Original issue discount (OID)If your loan or mortgage ends, you may be able to deduct any remaining points (OID) in
the tax year in which the loan or mortgage ends. A loan or mortgage may end due to a refinancing, prepayment, foreclosure, or similar event. However,
if the refinancing is with the same lender, the remaining points (OID) generally are not deductible in the year in which the refinancing occurs, but
may be deductible over the term of the new mortgage or loan.
Travel expenses.
You can deduct the ordinary and necessary expenses of traveling away from home if the primary purpose of the trip was to collect rental income or
to manage, conserve, or maintain your rental property. You must properly allocate your expenses between rental and nonrental activities. You cannot
deduct the cost of traveling away from home if the primary purpose of the trip was the improvement of your property. You recover the cost of
improvements by taking depreciation. For information on travel expenses, see chapter 1 of Publication 463.
Recordkeeping requirements:Travel and transportation expensesTravel and transportation expenses:RecordkeepingTo deduct travel expenses, you must keep records that follow the rules in chapter 5 of Publication 463.
Local transportation expenses.Rental expenses:Local transportation expensesTravel and transportation expenses:Local transportation expenses
You can deduct your ordinary and necessary local transportation expenses if you incur them to collect rental income or to manage, conserve, or
maintain your rental property.
Standard mileage ratesTravel and transportation expenses:Standard mileage rateGenerally, if you use your personal car, pickup truck, or light van for rental activities, you can
deduct the expenses using one of two methods: actual expenses or the standard mileage rate. For 2005, the standard mileage rate is 40
cents a mile for all business miles driven before September 1. The rate is 48 cents a mile for all business miles driven after August
31. For more information, see chapter 4 of Publication 463.
Recordkeeping requirements:Travel and transportation expensesTo deduct car expenses under either method, you must keep records that follow the rules
in chapter 5 of Publication 463. In addition, you must complete Form 4562, Part V, and attach it to your tax return.
You can deduct, as a rental expense, the part of tax return preparation fees you paid to prepare Schedule E (Form 1040), Part I. For example, on
your 2005 Schedule E you can deduct fees paid in 2005 to prepare Part I of your 2004 Schedule E. You can also deduct, as a rental expense, any expense
(other than federal taxes and penalties) you paid to resolve a tax underpayment related to your rental activities.
Condominiums
and CooperativesCondominiums
If you rent out a condominium or a cooperative apartment, special rules apply. Condominiums are treated differently from cooperatives.
Condominium
If you own a condominium, you own a dwelling unit in a multi-unit building. You also own a share of the common elements of the structure, such as
land, lobbies, elevators, and service areas. You and the other condominium owners may pay dues or assessments to a special corporation that is
organized to take care of the common elements.
If you rent your condominium to others, you can deduct depreciation, repairs, upkeep, dues, interest and taxes, and assessments for the care of the
common parts of the structure. You cannot deduct special assessments you pay to a condominium management corporation for improvements. But you may be
able to recover your share of the cost of any improvement by taking depreciation.
CooperativeCooperative housing
If you have a cooperative apartment that you rent to others, you can usually deduct, as a rental expense, all the maintenance fees you pay to the
cooperative housing corporation. However, you cannot deduct a payment earmarked for a capital asset or improvement, or otherwise charged to the
corporation's capital account. For example, you cannot deduct a payment used to pave a community parking lot, install a new roof, or pay the principal
of the corporation's mortgage. You must add the payment to the basis of your stock in the corporation.
Treat as a capital cost the amount you were assessed for capital items. This cannot be more than the amount by which your payments to the
corporation exceeded your share of the corporation's mortgage interest and real estate taxes.
Your share of interest and taxes is the amount the corporation elected to allocate to you, if it reasonably reflects those expenses for your
apartment. Otherwise, figure your share in the following way.
Divide the number of your shares of stock by the total number of shares outstanding, including any shares held by the
corporation.
Multiply the corporation's deductible interest by the number you figured in (1). This is your share of the interest.
Multiply the corporation's deductible taxes by the number you figured in (1). This is your share of the taxes.
In addition to the maintenance fees paid to the cooperative housing corporation, you can deduct your direct payments for repairs, upkeep, and other
rental expenses, including interest paid on a loan used to buy your stock in the corporation. The depreciation deduction allowed for cooperative
apartments is discussed later.
Activities not for profitNot-for-profit activitiesProfit, property not rented forRental income:Not rented for profitNot Rented for Profit
If you do not rent your property to make a profit, you can deduct your rental expenses only up to the amount of your rental income. You cannot
carry forward to the next year any rental expenses that are more than your rental income for the year. For more information about the rules for an
activity not engaged in for profit, see chapter 1 of Publication 535.
Where to report.Form 1040:Not rented for profit income
Report your not-for-profit rental income on Form 1040, line 21. You can include your mortgage interest (if you use the property as your main home
or second home), real estate taxes, and casualty losses on the appropriate lines of Schedule A (Form 1040) if you itemize your deductions.
Claim your other rental expenses, subject to the rules explained in chapter 1 of Publication 535, as miscellaneous itemized deductions on line 22
of Schedule A (Form 1040). You can deduct these expenses only if they, together with certain other miscellaneous itemized deductions, total more than
2% of your adjusted gross income.
Postponing decision.
If your rental income is more than your rental expenses for at least 3 years out of a period of 5 consecutive years, you are presumed to be renting
your property to make a profit. You may choose to postpone the decision of whether the rental is for profit by filing Form 5213.
See Publication 535 for more information.
Allocation of expenses:Change of property to rental usePersonal use of rental property:Property changed to rental useProperty changed to rental useUse of home:Change to rental useProperty Changed
to Rental Use
If you change your home or other property (or a part of it) to rental use at any time other than the beginning of your tax year, you must divide
yearly expenses, such as taxes and insurance, between rental use and personal use.
Rental expenses:Change of property to rental useYou can deduct as rental expenses only the part of the expense that is for the part of the
year the property was used or held for rental purposes.
Depreciation:Placement in serviceFor depreciation purposes, treat the property as being placed in service on the conversion date.
Depreciation:Change of property to rental useInsurance:Change of property to rental useMortgages:Change of property to rental useMortgages:InterestYou cannot deduct depreciation or insurance for the part of the year the property was held for personal use.
However, you can include the home mortgage interest and real estate tax expenses for the part of the year the property was held for personal use as an
itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form 1040).
Example.
Your tax year is the calendar year. You moved from your home in May and started renting it out on June 1. You can deduct as rental expenses
seven-twelfths of your yearly expenses, such as taxes and insurance.
Starting with June, you can deduct as rental expenses the amounts you pay for items generally billed monthly, such as utilities.
Depreciation:Change of property to rental useWhen figuring depreciation, treat the property as placed in service on June 1.
Form 1040:Part of property rentedRental expenses:Part of property rentedRenting Part of Property
Allocation of expenses:Part of property rentedIf you rent part of your property, you must divide certain expenses between the part of the property
used for rental purposes and the part of the property used for personal purposes, as though you actually had two separate pieces of property.
Insurance:Part of property rentedMortgages:InterestMortgages:Part of property rentedYou can deduct the expenses related to the part of the property used for rental purposes, such as
home mortgage interest and real estate taxes, as rental expenses on Schedule E (Form 1040). You can also deduct as a rental expense a part of other
expenses that normally are nondeductible personal expenses, such as expenses for electricity, or painting the outside of your house.
You can deduct the expenses for the part of the property used for personal purposes, subject to certain limitations, only if you itemize your
deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040).
You cannot deduct any part of the cost of the first phone line even if your tenants have unlimited use of it.
You do not have to divide the expenses that belong only to the rental part of your property. For example, if you paint a room that you rent, or if
you pay premiums for liability insurance in connection with renting a room in your home, your entire cost is a rental expense. If you install a second
phone line strictly for your tenant's use, all of the cost of the second line is deductible as a rental expense. You can deduct depreciation,
discussed later, on the part of the property used for rental purposes as well as on the furniture and equipment you use for rental purposes.
How to divide expenses.Allocation of expenses:Part of property rented
If an expense is for both rental use and personal use, such as mortgage interest or heat for the entire house, you must divide the expense between
rental use and personal use. You can use any reasonable method for dividing the expense. It may be reasonable to divide the cost of some items (for
example, water) based on the number of people using them. However, the two most common methods for dividing an expense are one based on the number of
rooms in your home and one based on the square footage of your home.
Example.
You rent a room in your house. The room is 12 × 15 feet, or 180 square feet. Your entire house has 1,800 square feet of floor space. You can
deduct as a rental expense 10% of any expense that must be divided between rental use and personal use. If your heating bill for the year for the
entire house was $600, $60 ($600 × 10%) is a rental expense. The balance, $540, is a personal expense that you cannot deduct.
Dwelling units:Personal use ofUse of home:Personal use as dwelling unitVacation homes:Personal use ofPersonal use of rental propertyPersonal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home)
Allocation of expenses:Personal use of rental propertyIf you have any personal use of a dwelling unit (defined later) (including a vacation home)
that you rent, you must divide your expenses between rental use and personal use. See Figuring Days of Personal Use and How To Divide
Expenses, later.
If you used a dwelling unit for personal purposes, it may be considered a dwelling unit used as a home. If it is, you cannot deduct rental
expenses that are more than your rental income for the unit. See Dwelling Unit Used as Home and How To Figure Rental Income and
Deductions, later. If the dwelling unit is not considered a dwelling unit used as a home, you can deduct rental expenses that are more than your
rental income for the unit, subject to certain limits. See Limits on Rental Losses, later.
Exception for minimal rental use.Minimal rental use exceptionRental income:Minimal rental use exceptionUse of home:Minimal rental use exceptionVacation homes:Minimal rental use exception
If you use the dwelling unit as a home and you rent it fewer than 15 days during the year, do not include any of the rent in your income and do not
deduct any of the rental expenses. See Dwelling Unit Used as Home, later.
Dwelling unit.Apartments:Dwelling unitsCondominiumsCooperative housingDwelling units:DefinitionVacation homes:Dwelling unit
A dwelling unit includes a house, apartment, condominium, mobile home, boat, vacation home, or similar property. A dwelling unit has basic living
accommodations, such as sleeping space, a toilet, and cooking facilities. A dwelling unit does not include property used solely as a hotel, motel,
inn, or similar establishment.
Property is used solely as a hotel, motel, inn, or similar establishment if it is regularly available for occupancy by paying customers and is not
used by an owner as a home during the year.
Example.
You rent a room in your home that is always available for short-term occupancy by paying customers. You do not use the room yourself and you allow
only paying customers to use the room. The room is used solely as a hotel, motel, inn, or similar establishment and is not a dwelling unit.
Dwelling Unit Used as HomeRental expenses:Dwelling unit used as homeRental income:Dwelling unit used as home
The tax treatment of rental income and expenses for a dwelling unit that you also use for personal purposes depends on whether you use it as a
home. (See How To Figure Rental Income and Deductions, later).
Days of personal useDwelling units:Personal use ofUse of home:Days of personal useYou use a dwelling unit as a home during the tax year if you use it for personal purposes more than the
greater of:
14 days, or
10% of the total days it is rented to others at a fair rental price.
See Figuring Days of Personal Use, later.
If a dwelling unit is used for personal purposes on a day it is rented at a fair rental price, do not count that day as a day of rental use in
applying (2) above. Instead, count it as a day of personal use in applying both (1) and (2) above. This rule does not apply when dividing expenses
between rental and personal use.
A fair rental price for your property generally is the amount of rent that a person who is not related to you would be willing to pay. The rent you
charge is not a fair rental price if it is substantially less than the rents charged for other properties that are similar to your property.
Ask yourself the following questions when comparing another property with yours.
Is it used for the same purpose?
Is it approximately the same size?
Is it in approximately the same condition?
Does it have similar furnishings?
Is it in a similar location?
If any of the answers are no, the properties probably are not similar.
Examples
The following examples show how to determine whether you used your rental property as a home.
Example 1.Apartments:Basement apartments
You converted the basement of your home into an apartment with a bedroom, a bathroom, and a small kitchen. You rented the basement apartment at a
fair rental price to college students during the regular school year. You rented to them on a 9-month lease (273 days). You figured 10% of the total
days rented to others at a fair rental price is 27 days.
During June (30 days), your brothers stayed with you and lived in the basement apartment rent free.
Apartments:Basement apartmentsYour basement apartment was used as a home because you used it for personal purposes for 30 days.
Rent-free use by your brothers is considered personal use. Your personal use (30 days) is more than the greater of 14 days or 10% of the total days it
was rented (27 days).
Example 2.
You rented the guest bedroom in your home at a fair rental price during the local college's homecoming, commencement, and football weekends (a
total of 27 days). Your sister-in-law stayed in the room, rent free, for the last 3 weeks (21 days) in July. You figured 10% of the total days rented
to others at a fair rental price is 3 days.
The room was used as a home because you used it for personal purposes for 21 days. That is more than the greater of 14 days or 10% of the 27 days
it was rented (3 days).
Example 3.
You own a condominium apartment in a resort area. You rented it at a fair rental price for a total of 170 days during the year. For 12 of these
days, the tenant was not able to use the apartment and allowed you to use it even though you did not refund any of the rent. Your family actually used
the apartment for 10 of those days. Therefore, the apartment is treated as having been rented for 160 (170 – 10) days. You figure 10% of the
total days rented to others at a fair rental price is 16 days. Your family also used the apartment for 7 other days during the year.
You used the apartment as a home because you used it for personal purposes for 17 days. That is more than the greater of 14 days or 10% of the 160
days it was rented (16 days).
Use as Main Home
Before or After RentingUse of home:Before or after renting
For purposes of determining whether a dwelling unit was used as a home, you may not have to count days you used the property as your main home
before or after renting it or offering it for rent as days of personal use. Do not count them as days of personal use if:
You rented or tried to rent the property for 12 or more consecutive months.
You rented or tried to rent the property for a period of less than 12 consecutive months and the period ended because you sold or exchanged
the property.
This special rule does not apply when dividing expenses between rental and personal use.
Example 1.
On February 28, you moved out of the house you had lived in for 6 years because you accepted a job in another town. You rent your house at a fair
rental price from March 15 of that year to May 14 of the next year (14 months). On the following June 1, you move back into your old house.
The days you used the house as your main home from January 1 to February 28 and from June 1 to December 31 of the next year are not counted as days
of personal use.
Example 2.
On January 31, you moved out of the condominium where you had lived for 3 years. You offered it for rent at a fair rental price beginning on
February 1. You were unable to rent it until April. On September 15, you sold the condominium.
The days you used the condominium as your main home from January 1 to January 31 are not counted as days of personal use when determining whether
you used it as a home.
Figuring Days
of Personal UseDays of personal useDwelling units:Personal use ofUse of home:Days of personal use
A day of personal use of a dwelling unit is any day that the unit is used by any of the following persons.
You or any other person who has an interest in it, unless you rent it to another owner as his or her main home under a shared equity
financing agreement (defined later). However, see Use as Main Home Before or After Renting under Dwelling Unit Used As Home,
earlier.
A member of your family or a member of the family of any other person who has an interest in it, unless the family member uses the dwelling
unit as his or her main home and pays a fair rental price. Family includes only brothers and sisters, half-brothers and half-sisters, spouses,
ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.) and lineal descendants (children, grandchildren, etc.).
Anyone under an arrangement that lets you use some other dwelling unit.
Anyone at less than a fair rental price.
Main home.Home:Main homePrincipal residenceHome
If the other person or member of the family in (1) or (2) above has more than one home, his or her main home is ordinarily the one he or she lived
in most of the time.
This is an agreement under which two or more persons acquire undivided interests for more than 50 years in an entire dwelling unit, including the
land, and one or more of the co-owners is entitled to occupy the unit as his or her main home upon payment of rent to the other co-owner or owners.
Donation of use of property.Charitable contributions:Use of property
You use a dwelling unit for personal purposes if:
You donate the use of the unit to a charitable organization,
The organization sells the use of the unit at a fund-raising event, and
The purchaser uses the unit.
Examples
The following examples show how to determine days of personal use.
Example 1.
You and your neighbor are co-owners of a condominium at the beach. You rent the unit to vacationers whenever possible. The unit is not used as a
main home by anyone. Your neighbor uses the unit for 2 weeks every year.
Because your neighbor has an interest in the unit, both of you are considered to have used the unit for personal purposes during those 2 weeks.
Example 2.
You and your neighbors are co-owners of a house under a shared equity financing agreement. Your neighbors live in the house and pay you a fair
rental price.
Even though your neighbors have an interest in the house, the days your neighbors live there are not counted as days of personal use by you. This
is because your neighbors rent the house as their main home under a shared equity financing agreement.
Example 3.
You own a rental property that you rent to your son. Your son has no interest in this property. He uses it as his main home. He pays you a fair
rental price for the property.
Your son's use of the property is not personal use by you because your son is using it as his main home, he has no interest in the property, and he
is paying you a fair rental price.
Example 4.
You rent your beach house to Rosa. Rosa rents her house in the mountains to you. You each pay a fair rental price.
You are using your house for personal purposes on the days that Rosa uses it because your house is used by Rosa under an arrangement that allows
you to use her house.
Example 5.
You rent an apartment to your mother at less than a fair rental price. You are using the apartment for personal purposes on the days that your
mother rents it because you rent it for less than a fair rental price.
Days Used for
Repairs and MaintenanceDays used for repairs and maintenanceRepairs:Personal use of rental property exception for days used for repairs and maintenance
Any day that you spend working substantially full time repairing and maintaining (not improving) your property is not counted as a day of personal
use. Do not count such a day as a day of personal use even if family members use the property for recreational purposes on the same day.
Example.
You own a cabin in the mountains that you rent during the summer. You spend 3 days at the cabin each May, working full time to repair anything that
was damaged over the winter and get the cabin ready for the summer. You also spend 3 days each September, working full time to repair any damage done
by renters and getting the cabin ready for the winter.
Personal use of rental propertyThese 6 days do not count as days of personal use even if your family uses the cabin
while you are repairing it.
How To Divide ExpensesAllocation of expenses:How to divide expensesDividing of expensesAllocation of expensesRental expenses:Allocation between rental and personal uses
If you use a dwelling unit for both rental and personal purposes, divide your expenses between the rental use and the personal use based on the
number of days used for each purpose. You can deduct expenses for the rental use of the unit under the rules explained in How To Figure Rental
Income and Deductions, later.
When dividing your expenses, follow these rules.
Any day that the unit is rented at a fair rental price is a day of rental use even if you used the unit for personal purposes that day. This
rule does not apply when determining whether you used the unit as a home.
Fair rental price
Any day that the unit is available for rent but not actually rented is not a day of rental use.
Example.
Vacation homes:Dividing of expensesYour beach cottage was available for rent from June 1 through August 31 (92 days). Your family uses the
cottage during the last 2 weeks in May (14 days). You were unable to find a renter for the first week in August (7 days). The person who rented the
cottage for July allowed you to use it over a weekend (2 days) without any reduction in or refund of rent. The cottage was not used at all before May
17 or after August 31.
You figure the part of the cottage expenses to treat as rental expenses as follows.
The cottage was used for rental a total of 85 days (92 − 7). The days it was available for rent but not rented (7 days) are not days
of rental use. The July weekend (2 days) you used it is rental use because you received a fair rental price for the weekend.
You used the cottage for personal purposes for 14 days (the last 2 weeks in May).
The total use of the cottage was 99 days (14 days personal use + 85 days rental use).
Your rental expenses are 85/99 (86%) of the cottage expenses.
When determining whether you used the cottage as a home, the July weekend (2 days) you used it is personal use even though you received a fair
rental price for the weekend. Therefore, you had 16 days of personal use and 83 days of rental use for this purpose. Because you used the cottage for
personal purposes more than 14 days and more than 10% of the days of rental use (8 days), you used it as a home. If you have a net loss, you may not
be able to deduct all of the rental expenses. See Property Used as a Home in the following discussion.
How To Figure Rental
Income and DeductionsDeductions:How to figure rental deductionsRental expenses:Deductions, how to figureRental income:Figuring
How you figure your rental income and deductions depends on whether you used the dwelling unit as a home (see Dwelling Unit Used as Home,
earlier) and, if you used it as a home, how many days the property was rented at a fair rental price.
Property Not Used as a HomeDeductions:Property not used as homeProperty not used as home:Rental income and deductionsRental expenses:Not used as homeRental income:Not used as home
If you do not use a dwelling unit as a home, report all the rental income and deduct all the rental expenses. See How To Report Rental Income
and Expenses, later.
Your deductible rental expenses can be more than your gross rental income. However, see Limits on Rental Losses, later.
Property Used as a HomeDeductions:Property used as homeProperty used as homeUse of homeRental expenses:Home, property also used asRental income:Used as homeUse of home:Rental income and deductions
If you use a dwelling unit as a home during the year, how you figure your rental income and deductions depends on how many days the unit was rented
at a fair rental price.
Rented fewer than 15 days.
If you use a dwelling unit as a home and you rent it fewer than 15 days during the year, do not include any rental income in your income. Also, you
cannot deduct any expenses as rental expenses.
Rented 15 days or more.
If you use a dwelling unit as a home and rent it 15 days or more during the year, you include all your rental income in your income. See How
To Report Rental Income and Expenses, later. If you had a net profit from the rental property for the year (that is, if your rental income is
more than the total of your rental expenses, including depreciation), deduct all of your rental expenses. However, if you had a net loss, your
deduction for certain rental expenses is limited.
Limit on deductions.Deductions:Limitations onLimits:Rental expense deductions
If your rental expenses are more than your rental income, you cannot use the excess expenses to offset income from other sources. The excess can be
carried forward to the next year and treated as rental expenses for the same property. Any expenses carried forward to next year will be subject to
any limits that apply next year. You can deduct the expenses carried over to a year only up to the amount of your rental income for that year, even if
you do not use the property as your home for that year.
To figure your deductible rental expenses and any carryover to next year, use Table 2.
<ROM>Table 2.</ROM>
<IMARK>Worksheet for Figuring the Limit on Rental Deductions for a Dwelling unit Used as a HomeUse this worksheet only if you answer yes to all the following questions.
Did you use the dwelling unit as a home this year? (See Dwelling Unit Used as Home.)
Did you rent the dwelling unit 15 days or more this year?
Is the total or your rental expenses and depreciation more than your rental income?
1.Enter rents received2a.Enter the rental portion of deductible home mortgage interest (see instructions)b.Enter the rental portion of real estate taxesc.Enter the rental portion of deduction casualty and theft losses (see instructions)d.Enter direct rental expenses (see instructions)e.Fully deductible rental expenses. Add lines 2a–2d3.Subtract line 2e from line 1. If zero or less, enter zero4a.Enter the rental portion of expenses directly related to operating or maintaining the dwelling unit (such as repairs,
insurance, and utilities)b.Enter the rental portion of excess mortgage interest (see instructions)c.Add lines 4a and 4bd.Allowable expenses. Enter the smaller of line 3 or line 4c5.Subtract line 4d from line 3. If zero or less, enter zero6a.Enter the rental portion of excess casualty and theft losses (see instructions)b.Enter the rental portion of depreciation of the dwelling unitc.Add lines 6a and 6bd.Allowable excess casualty and theft losses and depreciation. Enter the smaller of line 5 or line 6c7a.Operating expenses to be carried over to next year. Subtract line 4d from line 4cb.Excess casualty and theft losses and depreciation to be carried over to next year. Subtract line 6d from line
6cEnter the amounts on lines 2e, 4d, and 6d on the appropriate lines of Schedule E (Form 1040), Part
I.
Worksheet Instructions
Follow these instructions for the worksheet above. If you were unable to deduct all your expenses last year, because of the rental income limit,
add these unused amounts to your expenses for this year.
Line 2a. Figure the mortgage interest on the dwelling unit that you could deduct on Schedule A (Form 1040) if you had not rented the
unit. Do not include interest on a loan that did not benefit the dwelling unit. For example, do not include interest on a home equity loan used to pay
off credit cards or other personal loans, buy a car, or pay college tuition. Include interest on a loan used to buy, build, or improve the dwelling
unit, or to refinance such a loan. Enter the rental portion of this interest on line 2a of the worksheet.
Line 2c. Figure the casualty and theft losses related to the dwelling unit that you could deduct on Schedule A (Form 1040) if you had
not rented the dwelling unit. To do this, complete Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts, Section A, treating the losses as personal losses. On Form 4684,
line 19, enter 10% of your adjusted gross income figured without your rental income and expenses from the dwelling unit. If your loss occurred after
August 24, 2005, and was the result of Hurricane Katrina, enter zero on line 19. Enter the rental portion of the result from Form 4684, line 21, on
line 2c of this worksheet.
Note. Do not file this Form 4684 or use it to figure your personal losses on Schedule A. Instead, figure the personal portion on a
separate Form 4684.
Line 2d. Enter the total of your rental expenses that are directly related only to the rental activity. These include interest on loans
used for rental activities other than to buy, build, or improve the dwelling unit. Also include rental agency fees, advertising, office supplies, and
depreciation on office equipment used in your rental activity.
Line 4b. On line 2a, you entered the rental portion of the mortgage interest you could deduct on Schedule A if you had not rented the
dwelling unit. Enter on line 4b of this worksheet the rental portion of the mortgage interest you could not deduct on Schedule A because it is more
than the limit on home mortgage interest. Do not include interest on a loan that did not benefit the dwelling unit (as explained in the line 2a
instructions).
Line 6a. To find the rental portion of excess casualty and theft losses, use the Form 4684 you prepared for line 2c of this worksheet.
A.Enter the amount from Form 4684, line 10B.Enter the rental portion of AC.Enter the amount from line 2c of this worksheetD.Subtract C from B. Enter the result here and on line 6a of this worksheet
Allocating the limited deduction. If you cannot deduct all of the amount on line 4c or 6c this year, you can allocate the allowable
deduction in any way you wish among the expenses included on line 4c or 6c. Enter the amount you allocate to each expense on the appropriate line of
Schedule E, Part I.
You recover the cost of income producing property through yearly tax deductions. You do this by depreciating the property; that is, by deducting
some of the cost on the tax return each year.
Three basic factors determine how much depreciation you can deduct. They are: (1) your basis in the property, (2) the recovery period for the
property, and (3) the depreciation method used. You cannot simply deduct your mortgage or principal payments, or the cost of furniture, fixtures and
equipment, as an expense.
You can deduct depreciation only on the part of your property used for rental purposes. Depreciation reduces your basis for figuring gain or loss
on a later sale or exchange.
You may have to use Form 4562 to figure and report your depreciation. See How To Report Rental Income and Expenses, later. Also see
Publication 946.
Claiming the correct amount of depreciation.Depreciation:Claiming correct amount of
You should claim the correct amount of depreciation each tax year. Even if you did not claim depreciation that you were entitled to deduct, you
must still reduce your basis in the property by the full amount of depreciation that you could have deducted. See Decreases to basis,
later, for more information. If you did not deduct the correct amount of depreciation for property in any year, you may be able to make a correction
for that year by filing Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. If you are not allowed to make the correction on an amended return, you
can change your accounting method to claim the correct amount of depreciation. See Changing your accounting method, later.
Filing an amended return.Amended returns
You can file an amended return to correct the amount of depreciation claimed for any property in any of the following situations.
You claimed the incorrect amount because of a mathematical error made in any year.
You claimed the incorrect amount because of a posting error made in any year.
You have not adopted a method of accounting for the property.
If an amended return is allowed, you must file it by the later of the following dates.
3 years from the date you filed your original return for the year in which you did not deduct the correct amount. (A return filed early is
considered filed on the due date.)
2 years from the time you paid your tax for that year.
Changing your accounting method.Accounting methods:Change of methodChange of accounting methodDepreciation:Change of accounting method
To change your accounting method, you must file Form 3115, Application for Change in Accounting Method, to get the consent of the IRS. In some
instances, that consent is automatic. For more information, see Changing Your Accounting Method in Publication 946.
What Property Can be DepreciatedDepreciation:Eligible property
You can depreciate your property if it meets all the following requirements.
You own the property.
Depreciation:Ownership of property
You use the property in your business or income-producing activity (such as rental property).
The property has a determinable useful life.
Depreciation:Useful life
The property is expected to last more than one year.
Depreciation:Duration of property expected to last more than one year
The property is not excepted property (such as property placed in service and disposed of in the same year and section 197
intangibles).
Depreciation:Excepted property
Property having a determinable useful life.Depreciation:Useful life
To be depreciable, your property must have a determinable useful life. This means that it must be something that wears out, decays, gets used up,
becomes obsolete, or loses its value from natural causes.
Land.Land:Depreciation
You can never depreciate the cost of land because land does not wear out, become obsolete, or get used up. The costs of clearing, grading,
planting, and landscaping are usually all part of the cost of land and cannot be depreciated.
Property you own.Depreciation:Ownership of property
To claim depreciation, you usually must be the owner of the property. You are considered as owning property even if it is subject to a debt.
Rented property.Depreciation:Rented propertyImprovements:Depreciation of rented property
Generally, if you pay rent on property, you cannot depreciate that property. Usually, only the owner can depreciate it. If you make permanent
improvements to the property, you may be able to depreciate the improvements. See Additions or improvements to property, later.
Cooperative apartments.Cooperative housing
If you are a tenant-stockholder in a cooperative housing corporation and rent your cooperative apartment to others, you can deduct depreciation for
your stock in the corporation.
Figure your depreciation deduction as follows.
Figure the depreciation for all the depreciable real property owned by the corporation. (Depreciation methods are discussed later.) If you
bought your cooperative stock after its first offering, figure the depreciable basis of this property as follows.
Multiply your cost per share by the total number of outstanding shares.
Add to the amount figured in (a) any mortgage debt on the property on the date you bought the stock.
Subtract from the amount figured in (b) any mortgage debt that is not for the depreciable real property, such as the part for the
land.
Subtract from the amount figured in (1) any depreciation for space owned by the corporation that can be rented but cannot be lived in by
tenant-stockholders.
Divide the number of your shares of stock by the total number of shares outstanding, including any shares held by the
corporation.
Multiply the result of (2) by the percentage you figured in (3). This is your depreciation on the stock.
Your depreciation deduction for the year cannot be more than the part of your adjusted basis (defined later) in the stock of the corporation that
is allocable to your rental property.
See Cooperative apartments under What Property Can Be Depreciated? in chapter 1 of Publication 946 for more information.
No deduction greater than basis.Basis:Deductions:Not greater than basis
The total of all your yearly depreciation deductions cannot be more than the cost or other basis of the property. For this purpose, your yearly
depreciation deductions include any depreciation that you were allowed to claim, even if you did not claim it.
<ROM>Table 3.</ROM> MACRS Recovery Periods for Property Used in Rental Activities
MACRS Recovery Period Type of PropertyGeneral
Depreciation
SystemAlternative
Depreciation
System Computers and their peripheral equipment5 years5 yearsOffice machinery, such as:
Typewriters
Calculators
Copiers5 years6 yearsAutomobiles5 years5 yearsLight trucks5 years5 yearsAppliances, such as:
Stoves
Refrigerators5 years9 yearsCarpets5 years9 yearsFurniture used in rental property5 years9 yearsOffice furniture and equipment, such as:
Desks
Files7 years10 yearsAny property that does not have a class life and that has not
been designated by law as being in any other class7 years12 yearsRoads15 years20 yearsShrubbery15 years20 yearsFences15 years20 yearsResidential rental property (buildings or structures)
and structural components such as furnaces,
waterpipes, venting, etc.27.5 years40 yearsAdditions and improvements, such as a new roofThe same recovery period as that of the property to which the addition or improvement is made,
determined as if the property were placed in service at the same time as the addition or improvement.
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Property used in rental activities (Table 3)Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Recovery periodsTables and figures:MACRS recovery periods for rental activity property (Table 3)Depreciation MethodsDepreciation:Methods
There are three ways to figure depreciation. The depreciation method you use depends on the type of property and when it was placed in service. For
property used in rental activities you use one of the following.
MACRS (Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System) for property placed in service after 1986.
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Effective date
ACRS (Accelerated Cost Recovery System) for property placed in service after 1980 but before 1987.
Accelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS):Effective dateACRS (Accelerated Cost Recovery System):Effective date
Useful lives and either straight line or an accelerated method of depreciation, such as the declining balance method, for property placed in
service before 1981.
Depreciation:Declining balance methodDepreciation:Straight line method
This publication discusses MACRS only. If you need information about depreciating property placed in service before 1987, see Publication 534.
If you placed property in service before 2005, continue to use the same method of figuring depreciation that you used in the past.
You cannot claim the section 179 deduction for property held to produce rental income. See chapter 2 of Publication 946.
Alternative minimum tax.Alternative minimum tax (AMT):Accelerated depreciation methods
If you use accelerated depreciation, you may have to file Form 6251, Alternative Minimum Tax–Individuals. Accelerated depreciation can be
determined under MACRS, ACRS, and any other method that allows you to deduct more depreciation than you could deduct using a straight line method.
MACRSAccelerated Cost Recovery System (ACRS):Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)DepreciationMACRSModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)
Most business and investment property placed in service after 1986 is depreciated using MACRS.
Alternative Depreciation System (ADS):MACRSModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Alternative Depreciation System (ADS)Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):General Depreciation System (GDS)
MACRS consists of two systems that determine how you depreciate your property—the General Depreciation System (GDS) and the Alternative
Depreciation System (ADS). GDS is used to figure your depreciation deduction for property used in most rental activities, unless you elect ADS.
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Determination of deductionTo figure your MACRS deduction, you need to know the following information about your property:
Its recovery period,
Its placed-in-service date, and
Its depreciable basis.
Personal home changed to rental use.Depreciation:Change of property to rental useModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Personal home changed to rental useProperty changed to rental use:MACRS depreciationUse of home:Change to rental use
You must use MACRS to figure the depreciation on property used as your home and changed to rental property in 2005.
Excluded property.Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Excluded property
You cannot use MACRS for certain personal property placed in service in your rental property in 2005 if it had been previously placed in service
before MACRS became effective. Generally, personal property is excluded from MACRS if you (or a person related to you) owned or used it in 1986 or if
your tenant is a person (or someone related to the person) who owned or used it in 1986. However, the property is not excluded if your 2005 deduction
under MACRS (using a half-year convention) is less than the deduction you would have under ACRS. See Can You Use MACRS To Depreciate Your
Property? in Publication 946 for more information.
Recovery Periods Under GDSModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):General Depreciation System (GDS)
Each item of property that can be depreciated is assigned to a property class. The recovery period of the property depends on the class the
property is in. Under GDS, the recovery period of an asset is generally the same as its property class. The property classes under GDS are:
3-year property,
5-year property,
7-year property,
10-year property,
15-year property,
20-year property,
Nonresidential real property, and
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Nonresidential rental propertyNonresidential real property
Residential rental property.
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Residential rental propertyRecovery periods
The class to which property is assigned is determined by its class life. Class lives and recovery periods for most assets are listed in
Appendix B in Publication 946.
Under GDS, property that you placed in service during 2005 in your rental activities generally falls into one of the following classes. Also see
Table 3.
5-year property. This class includes computers and peripheral equipment, office machinery (typewriters, calculators, copiers,
etc.), automobiles, and light trucks.
This class also includes appliances, carpeting, furniture, etc., used in a residential rental real estate activity.
Computers:MACRS recovery periodsDepreciation on automobiles, certain computers, and cellular telephones is limited. See chapter 5 of
Publication 946.
Automobiles:MACRS recovery periodsCars:MACRS recovery periodsComputers:MACRS recovery periods
7-year property. This class includes office furniture and equipment (desks, files, etc.). This class also includes any property
that does not have a class life and that has not been designated by law as being in any other class.
15-year property. This class includes roads and shrubbery (if depreciable).
Residential rental property. This class includes any real property that is a rental building or structure (including a mobile
home) for which 80% or more of the gross rental income for the tax year is from dwelling units. It does not include a unit in a hotel, motel, inn, or
other establishment where more than half of the units are used on a transient basis. If you live in any part of the building or structure, the gross
rental income includes the fair rental value of the part you live in. The recovery period for residential rental property is 27.5 years.
Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Residential rental property
The other property classes do not generally apply to property used in rental activities. These classes are not discussed in this publication. See
Publication 946 for more information.
Qualified Indian reservation property.Indian reservation property
Shorter recovery periods are provided under MACRS for qualified Indian reservation property placed in service on Indian reservations before 2006.
For more information, see chapter 4 of Publication 946.
Additions or improvements to property.Additions to property:ImprovementsAdditions to property:MACRS recovery periodImprovements:MACRS recovery periodModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Additions or improvements to property
Treat depreciable additions or improvements you make to any property as separate property items for depreciation purposes. The recovery period for
an addition or improvement to property begins on the later of:
The date the addition or improvement is placed in service, or
The date the property to which the addition or improvement was made is placed in service.
The property class and recovery period of the addition or improvement is the one that would apply to the original property if it were placed in
service at the same time as the addition or improvement.
Example.
You own a residential rental house that you have been renting since 1986 and that you are depreciating under ACRS. You put an addition onto the
house and placed it in service in 2005. You must use MACRS for the addition. Under GDS, the addition is depreciated as residential rental property
over 27.5 years.
Placed-in-Service DatePlaced-in-service date
You can begin to depreciate property when you place it in service in your trade or business or for the production of income. Property is considered
placed in service in a rental activity when it is ready and available for a specific use in that activity.
Example 1.
On November 22 of last year, you purchased a dishwasher for your rental property. The appliance was delivered on December 7, but was not installed
and ready for use until January 3 of this year. Because the dishwasher was not ready for use last year, it is not considered placed in service until
this year.
If the appliance had been ready for use when it was delivered in December of last year, it would have been considered placed in service in
December, even if it was not actually used until this year.
Example 2.
On April 6, you purchased a house to use as residential rental property. You made extensive repairs to the house and had it ready for rent on July
5. You began to advertise the house for rent in July and actually rented it beginning September 1. The house is considered placed in service in July
when it was ready and available for rent. You can begin to depreciate the house in July.
Example 3.
You moved from your home in July. During August and September you made several repairs to the house. On October 1, you listed the property for rent
with a real estate company, which rented it on December 1. The property is considered placed in service on October 1, the date when it was available
for rent.
Depreciable BasisBasis:MACRS depreciable basisDepreciationBasisBasisModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Depreciable basis
The depreciable basis of property used in a rental activity is generally its adjusted basis when you place it in service in that activity. This is
its cost or other basis when you acquired it, adjusted for certain items occurring before you place it in service in the rental activity.
If you depreciate your property under MACRS, you may also have to reduce your basis by certain deductions and credits with respect to the property.
Basis and adjusted basis are explained in the following discussions.
If you used the property for personal purposes before changing it to rental use, its depreciable basis is the lesser of its adjusted basis or its
fair market value when you change it to rental use. See Basis of Property Changed to Rental Use, later.
Cost BasisBasis:Cost basisCost basisModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Cost basis
The basis of property you buy is usually its cost. The cost is the amount you pay for it in cash, in debt obligation, in other property, or in
services. Your cost also includes amounts you pay for:
Sales tax charged on the purchase (but see the Exception that follows),
Freight charges to obtain the property, and
Installation and testing charges.
Exception.
You can elect to deduct state and local general sales taxes instead of state and local income taxes as an itemized deduction on Schedule A (Form
1040). If you make that choice, you cannot include those sales taxes as part of your cost basis.
Loans with low or no interest.Loans:Low or no interest
If you buy property on any time-payment plan that charges little or no interest, the basis of your property is your stated purchase price, less the
amount considered to be unstated interest. See Unstated Interest and Original Issue Discount in Publication 537, Installment Sales.
Real property.
If you buy real property, such as a building and land, certain fees and other expenses you pay are part of your cost basis in the property.
Real estate taxes.Real estate taxesTaxes:Real estate taxes
If you buy real property and agree to pay real estate taxes on it that were owed by the seller and the seller did not reimburse you, the taxes you
pay are treated as part of your basis in the property. You cannot deduct them as taxes paid.
If you reimburse the seller for real estate taxes the seller paid for you, you can usually deduct that amount. Do not include that amount in your
basis in the property.
Settlement fees and other costs.Closing costsFees:Settlement fees and other costsSettlement fees
Settlement fees and closing costs that are for buying the property are part of your basis in the property. These include:
Any amounts the seller owes that you agree to pay, such as back taxes or interest, recording or mortgage fees, charges for improvements or
repairs, and sales commissions.
Some settlement fees and closing costs you cannot include in your basis in the property are:
Fire insurance premiums,
Insurance:Fire insurance premiums, cost basis
Rent or other charges relating to occupancy of the property before closing, and
Rent
Charges connected with getting or refinancing a loan, such as:
Points (discount points, loan origination fees),
Fees:Loan origination feesPoints
Mortgage insurance premiums,
Mortgages:Mortgage insurance premiums
Loan assumption fees,
Loans:Assumption fees
Cost of a credit report, and
Credit reports
Fees for an appraisal required by a lender.
Appraisal fees
Loans:Charges connected with getting or refinancing, cost basis
Also, do not include amounts placed in escrow for the future payment of items such as taxes and insurance.
Assumption of a mortgage.Assumption of mortgageMortgages:Assumption of, cost basis
If you buy property and become liable for an existing mortgage on the property, your basis is the amount you pay for the property plus the amount
that still must be paid on the mortgage.
Example.
You buy a building for $60,000 cash and assume a mortgage of $240,000 on it. Your basis is $300,000.
Land and buildings.Land:Cost basis
If you buy buildings and your cost includes the cost of the land on which they stand, you must divide the cost between the land and the buildings
to figure the basis for depreciation of the buildings. The part of the cost that you allocate to each asset is the ratio of the fair market value of
that asset to the fair market value of the whole property at the time you buy it.
If you are not certain of the fair market values of the land and the buildings, you can divide the cost between them based on their assessed values
for real estate tax purposes.
Example.
You buy a house and land for $100,000. The purchase contract does not specify how much of the purchase price is for the house and how much is for
the land.
The latest real estate tax assessment on the property was based on an assessed value of $80,000, of which $68,000 is for the house and $12,000 is
for the land.
You can allocate 85% ($68,000 ÷ $80,000) of the purchase price to the house and 15% ($12,000 ÷ $80,000) of the purchase price to the
land.
Your basis in the house is $85,000 (85% of $100,000) and your basis in the land is $15,000 (15% of $100,000).
Basis Other Than CostBasis:Basis other than costModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Basis other than cost
There are many times when you cannot use cost as a basis. You cannot use cost as a basis for property that you received:
In return for services you performed,
In an exchange for other property,
As a gift,
From your spouse, or from your former spouse as the result of a divorce, or
As an inheritance.
If you received property in one of these ways, see Publication 551 for information on how to figure your basis.
Before you can figure allowable depreciation, you may have to make certain adjustments (increases and decreases) to the basis of the property. The
result of these adjustments to the basis is the adjusted basis.
Increases to basis.Basis:Increases to
You must increase the basis of any property by the cost of all items properly added to a capital account. This includes:
The cost of any additions or improvements having a useful life of more than one year,
Additions to property:BasisImprovements:Basis
Amounts spent after a casualty to restore the damaged property,
The cost of extending utility service lines to the property, and
Utilities
Legal fees, such as the cost of defending and perfecting title.
Attorneys' fees
Additions or improvements.Additions to property:BasisImprovements:Basis
Add to the basis of your property the amount an addition or improvement actually cost you, including any amount you borrowed to make the addition
or improvement. This includes all direct costs, such as material and labor, but not your own labor. It also includes all expenses related to the
addition or improvement.
For example, if you had an architect draw up plans for remodeling your property, the architect's fee is a part of the cost of the remodeling. Or,
if you had your lot surveyed to put up a fence, the cost of the survey is a part of the cost of the fence.
Keep separate accounts for depreciable additions or improvements made after you place the property in service in your rental activity. For
information on depreciating additions or improvements, see Additions or improvements to property, earlier, under Recovery Periods
Under GDS.
The cost of landscaping improvements is usually treated as an addition to the basis of the land, which is not depreciable. See What property
can be depreciated, earlier.
Assessments for local improvements.Assessments, localLocal assessmentsBasis:Assessments for local improvementsImprovements:Assessments for local improvementsLocal assessments
Assessments for items which tend to increase the value of property, such as streets and sidewalks, must be added to the basis of the property. For
example, if your city installs curbing on the street in front of your house, and assesses you and your neighbors for the cost of curbing, you must add
the assessment to the basis of your property. Also add the cost of legal fees paid to obtain a decrease in an assessment levied against property to
pay for local improvements. You cannot deduct these items as taxes or depreciate them.
Assessments for maintenanceRepairs:Assessments for maintenanceAssessments for maintenance or repair or meeting interest charges are deductible as taxes. Do
not add them to your basis in the property.
Deducting vs. capitalizing costs.Basis:Deductions:Capitalization of costs vs.Capital expenditures:Deductions vs. effect on basisDeductions:Capitalizing costs vs. effect on basis
You cannot add to your basis costs that are deductible as current expenses. However, there are certain costs you can choose either to deduct or to
capitalize. If you capitalize these costs, include them in your basis. If you deduct them, do not include them in your basis.
The costs you may be able to choose to deduct or to capitalize include carrying charges, such as interest and taxes, that you must pay to own
property.
For more information about deducting or capitalizing costs, see chapter 8 in Publication 535.
Decreases to basis.Basis:Decreases to
You must decrease the basis of your property by any items that represent a return of your cost. These include:
The amount of any insurance or other payment you receive as the result of a casualty or theft loss,
Insurance:Casualty or theft loss payments
Any deductible casualty loss not covered by insurance,
Any amount you receive for granting an easement,
Easements
Any residential energy credit you were allowed before 1986, if you added the cost of the energy items to the basis of your home,
and
Credits:Residential energy credit before 1986Tax credits:Residential energy credit allowed before 1986, effect on basis
The amount of depreciation you could have deducted on your tax returns under the method of depreciation you selected. If you took less
depreciation than you could have under the method you selected, you must decrease the basis by the amount you could have taken under that
method.
If you deducted more depreciation than you should have, you must decrease your basis by the amount you should have deducted, plus the part of the
excess you deducted that actually lowered your tax liability for any year.
Basis of Property
Changed to Rental UseBasis:Property changed to rental useProperty changed to rental use:Basis
When you change property you held for personal use to rental use (for example, you rent your former home), you figure the basis for depreciation
using the lesser of fair market value or adjusted basis.
Fair market value.Basis:Fair market valueFair market value (FMV)Valuation:Fair market value
This is the price at which the property would change hands between a buyer and a seller, neither having to buy or sell, and both having reasonable
knowledge of all the relevant facts. Sales of similar property, on or about the same date, may be helpful in figuring the fair market value of the
property.
Figuring the basis.
The basis for depreciation is the lesser of:
The fair market value of the property on the date you changed it to rental use, or
Your adjusted basis on the date of the change—that is, your original cost or other basis of the property, plus the cost of permanent
additions or improvements since you acquired it, minus deductions for any casualty or theft losses claimed on earlier years' income tax returns and
other decreases to basis.
Example.
Several years ago you built your home for $140,000 on a lot that cost you $14,000. Before changing the property to rental use last year, you added
$28,000 of permanent improvements to the house and claimed a $3,500 deduction for a casualty loss to the house. Because land is not depreciable, you
can only include the cost of the house when figuring the basis for depreciation.
The adjusted basis of the house at the time of the change in use was $164,500 ($140,000 + $28,000 − $3,500).
On the date of the change in use, your property had a fair market value of $168,000, of which $21,000 was for the land and $147,000 was for the
house.
The basis for depreciation on the house is the fair market value at the date of the change ($147,000), because it is less than your adjusted basis
($164,500).
MACRS Depreciation
Under GDSDepreciation:MethodsGeneral depreciation system (GDS)Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):General Depreciation System (GDS)
You can figure your MACRS depreciation deduction under GDS in one of two ways. The deduction is substantially the same both ways. (The difference,
if any, is slight.) You can either:
Actually compute the deduction using the depreciation method and convention that apply over the recovery period of the property,
or
Use the percentage from the optional MACRS tables, shown later.
If you actually compute the deduction, the depreciation method you use depends on the class of the property.
5-, 7-, or 15-year property.Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Recovery periods
For property in the 5- or 7-year class, use the 200% declining balance method and a half-year convention. However, in limited cases you must use
the mid-quarter convention, if it applies. These conventions are explained later. For property in the 15-year class, use the 150% declining balance
method and a half-year convention.
You can also choose to use the 150% declining balance method for property in the 5- or 7-year class. The choice to use the 150% method for one item
in a class of property applies to all property in that class that is placed in service during the tax year of the election. You make this election on
Form 4562. In Part III, column (f), enter 150 DB.
If you use either the 200% or 150% declining balance method, you figure your deduction using the straight line method in the first tax year that
the straight line method gives you an equal or larger deduction.
You can also choose to use the straight line method with a half-year or mid-quarter convention for 5-, 7-, or 15-year property. The choice to use
the straight line method for one item in a class of property applies to all property in that class that is placed in service during the tax year of
the election. You elect the straight line method on Form 4562. In Part III, column (f), enter S/L. Once you make this election, you cannot
change to another method.
Residential rental property.Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Residential rental property
You must use the straight line method and a mid-month convention for residential rental property.
To figure your MACRS deduction, first determine your declining balance rate from the table below. However, if you elect to use the 150% declining
balance method for 5- or 7-year property, figure the declining balance rate by dividing 1.5 (150%) by the recovery period for the property.
In the first tax year, multiply the adjusted basis of the property by the declining balance rate and apply the appropriate convention to figure
your depreciation. In later years (before the year you switch to the straight line method), use the following steps to figure your depreciation.
Reduce your adjusted basis by the depreciation allowable for the earlier years.
Multiply the new adjusted basis in (1) by the same rate used in earlier years.
See Conventions, later, for information on depreciation in the year you dispose of property.
Declining balance rates.
Tables and figures:Declining balance depreciation ratesThe following table shows the declining balance rate that applies for each class of
property and the first year for which the straight line method will give an equal or greater deduction. (The rates for 5- and 7-year property are
based on the 200% declining balance method. The rate for 15-year property is based on the 150% declining balance method.)
Straight Line MethodDepreciation:Straight line methodModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Straight line method
To figure your MACRS deduction under the straight line method, you must apply a different depreciation rate to the adjusted basis of your property
for each tax year in the recovery period.
In the first year, multiply the adjusted basis of the property by the straight line rate. You must figure the depreciation for the first year using
the convention that applies. (See Conventions, later.)
Straight line rate.
For any tax year, figure the straight line rate by dividing the number 1 by the years remaining in the recovery period at the beginning of the tax
year. When figuring the number of years remaining, you must take into account the convention used in the first year. If the remaining recovery period
at the beginning of the tax year is less than one year, the straight line rate for that tax year is 100%.
Example.
You place in service property with a basis of $1,000 and a 5-year recovery period. The straight line rate is 20% (1 divided by 5) for the first tax
year. After you apply the half-year convention, the first year rate is 10% (20% divided by 2). Depreciation for the first year is $100.
At the beginning of the second year, the remaining recovery period is 4 years because of the half-year convention. The straight
line rate for the second year is 22.22% (1 divided by 4.5).
To figure your depreciation deduction for the second year:
Subtract the depreciation taken in the first year ($100) from the basis of the property ($1,000), and
Multiply the remaining basis ($900) by 22.22%. The depreciation for the second year is $200.
Residential rental property.
In the first year that you claim depreciation for residential rental property, you can only claim depreciation for the number of months the
property is in use, and you must use the mid-month convention (explained under Conventions, next).
ConventionsModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Conventions
Under MACRS, conventions establish when the recovery period begins and ends. The convention you use determines the number of months for which you
can claim depreciation in the year you place property in service and in the year you dispose of the property.
Mid-month convention.
A mid-month convention is used for all residential rental property and nonresidential real property. Under this convention, you treat all property
placed in service, or disposed of, during any month as placed in service, or disposed of, at the midpoint of that month.
Mid-quarter convention.
A mid-quarter convention must be used if the mid-month convention does not apply and the total depreciable basis of MACRS property placed in
service in the last 3 months of a tax year (excluding nonresidential real property, residential rental property, and property placed in service and
disposed of in the same year) is more than 40% of the total basis of all such property you place in service during the year.
Under this convention, you treat all property placed in service, or disposed of, during any quarter of a tax year as placed in service, or disposed
of, at the midpoint of the quarter.
Example.
During the tax year, Tom Martin purchased the following items to use in his rental property. He elects not to claim the special depreciation
allowance, discussed earlier.
A dishwasher for $400 that he placed in service in January.
Used furniture for $100 that he placed in service in September.
A refrigerator for $500 that he placed in service in October.
Tom uses the calendar year as his tax year. The total basis of all property placed in service that year is $1,000. The $500 basis of the
refrigerator placed in service during the last 3 months of his tax year exceeds $400 (40% × $1,000). Tom must use the mid-quarter convention
instead of the half-year convention for all three items.
Half-year convention.
The half-year convention is used if neither the mid-quarter convention nor the mid-month convention applies. Under this convention, you treat all
property placed in service, or disposed of, during a tax year as placed in service, or disposed of, at the midpoint of that tax year.
If this convention applies, you deduct a half-year of depreciation for the first year and the last year that you depreciate the property. You
deduct a full year of depreciation for any other year during the recovery period.
Table 4. Optional M.A.C.R.S. TablesSummary: This illustrates tables 4-A through 4-D of the percentages used to calculate the depreciation amounts on 5-, 7-, and 15-year property
and residential rental property (27.5-year) as described in the text.Optional Tables
You can use the tables in Table 4 to compute annual depreciation under MACRS. The tables show the percentages for the first 6 years. See
Appendix A of Publication 946 for complete tables. The percentages in Tables 4-A, 4-B, and 4-C make the change from declining balance to
straight line in the year that straight line will yield a larger deduction. See Declining Balance Method, earlier.
If you elect to use the straight line method for 5-, 7-, or 15-year property, or the 150% declining balance method for 5- or 7-year property, use
the tables in Appendix A of Publication 946.
How to use the tables.
The following section explains how to use the optional tables.
Figure the depreciation deduction by multiplying your unadjusted basis in the property by the percentage shown in the appropriate table. Your
unadjusted basis is your depreciable basis without reduction for MACRS depreciation previously claimed.
Once you begin using an optional table to figure depreciation, you must continue to use it for the entire recovery period unless there is an
adjustment to the basis of your property for a reason other than:
Depreciation allowed or allowable, or
An addition or improvement that is depreciated as a separate item of property.
If there is an adjustment for any reason other than (1) or (2) (for example, because of a deductible casualty loss) you can no longer use the
table. For the year of the adjustment and for the remaining recovery period, figure depreciation using the property's adjusted basis at the end of the
year and the appropriate depreciation method, as explained earlier under MACRS Depreciation Under GDS.
Tables 4-A, 4-B, and 4-C.Tables and figures:MACRS optional tables (Tables 4–A, 4–B, and 4–C)
The percentages in these tables take into account the half-year and mid-quarter conventions. Use Table 4-A for 5-year property, Table 4-B for
7-year property, and Table 4-C for 15-year property. Use the percentage in the second column (half-year convention) unless you must use the
mid-quarter convention (explained earlier). If you must use the mid-quarter convention, use the column that corresponds to the calendar year quarter
in which you placed the property in service.
Example 1.
You purchased a stove and refrigerator and placed them in service in June. Your basis in the stove is $600 and your basis in the refrigerator is
$1,000. Both are 5-year property. Using the half-year convention column in Table 4-A, you find the depreciation percentage for year 1 is 20%. For that
year your depreciation deduction is $120 ($600 × .20) for the stove and $200 ($1,000 × .20) for the refrigerator.
For year 2, you find your depreciation percentage is 32%. That year's depreciation deduction will be $192 ($600 × .32) for the stove and $320
($1,000 × .32) for the refrigerator.
Example 2.
Assume the same facts as in Example 1, except you buy the refrigerator in October instead of June. You must use the mid-quarter
convention to figure depreciation on the stove and refrigerator. The refrigerator was placed in service in the last 3 months of the tax year, and its
basis ($1,000) is more than 40% of the total basis of all property placed in service during the year ($1,600 × .40 = $640).
Because you placed the refrigerator in service in October, you use the fourth quarter column of Table 4-A and find that the depreciation percentage
for year 1 is 5%. Your depreciation deduction for the refrigerator is $50 ($1,000 × .05).
Because you placed the stove in service in June, you use the second quarter column of Table 4-A and find that the depreciation percentage for year
1 is 25%. For that year, your depreciation deduction for the stove is $150 ($600 × .25).
Table 4-D.Tables and figures:MACRS optional tables (Table 4–D)
Alternative Depreciation System (ADS):MACRSDepreciationAlternative Depreciation System (ADS)Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)Use this table for residential rental property. Find the row for the month that
you placed the property in service. Use the percentages listed for that month to figure your depreciation deduction. The mid-month convention is taken
into account in the percentages shown in the table.
Example.
You purchased a single family rental house and placed it in service in February. Your basis in the house is $160,000. Using Table 4-D,
you find that the percentage for property placed in service in February of year 1 is 3.182%. That year's depreciation deduction is $5,091 ($160,000
× .03182).
MACRS Depreciation
Under ADSModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS):Alternative Depreciation System (ADS)
If you choose, you can use the ADS method for most property. Under ADS, you use the straight line method of depreciation.
Table 3 shows the recovery periods for property used in rental activities that you depreciate under ADS.
See Appendix B in Publication 946 for other property. If your property is not listed, it is considered to have no class life. Under ADS,
personal property with no class life is depreciated using a recovery period of 12 years.
Use the mid-month convention for residential rental property and nonresidential real property. For all other property, use the half-year or
mid-quarter convention.
Election.Alternative Depreciation System (ADS):Election of
For property placed in service during 2005 you choose to use ADS by entering the depreciation on Form 4562, Part III, line 20.
The election of ADS for one item in a class of property generally applies to all property in that class that is placed in service during the tax
year of the election. However, the election applies on a property-by-property basis for residential rental property and nonresidential real property.
DepreciationModified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)Once you choose to use ADS, you cannot change your election.
Casualty lossesGains and losses:Casualty and theft lossesLossesGains and lossesCasualties and Thefts
As a result of a casualty or theft, you may have a loss related to your property. You may be able to deduct the loss on your income tax return. For
information on casualty and theft losses (business and nonbusiness), see Publication 547.
Casualty.
Damage to, destruction of, or loss of property is a casualty if it results from an identifiable event that is sudden, unexpected, or unusual.
Theft.Theft losses
The unlawful taking and removing of your money or property with the intent to deprive you of it is a theft.
Gain from casualty or theft.
When you have a casualty to, or theft of, your property and you receive money, including insurance, that is more than your adjusted basis in the
property, you generally must report the gain. However, under certain circumstances, you may defer paying tax by choosing to postpone reporting the
gain. To do this, you must generally buy replacement property within 2 years after the close of the first tax year in which any part of your gain is
realized. The cost of the replacement property must be equal to or more than the net insurance or other payment you received. For more information,
see Publication 547.
How to report.
Form 4684:Casualties and theftsForm 4797:Sales of business propertyGains and losses:Sale of rental propertySale of property:Gain or lossIf you had a casualty or theft that involved property used in your rental activity, you figure the net gain or
loss in Section B of Form 4684, Casualties and Thefts. Also, you may have to report the net gain or loss from Form 4684 on Form 4797, Sales of
Business Property. (Follow the instructions for Form 4684.)
Deductions:Limitations onGains and losses:Limits on rental lossesLimits:Rental lossesLimits on
Rental Losses
Rental real estate activities are generally considered passive activities, and the amount of loss you can deduct is limited. Generally, you cannot
deduct losses from rental real estate activities unless you have income from other passive activities. However, you may be able to deduct rental
losses without regard to whether you have income from other passive activities if you materially or actively participated in your rental
activity. See Passive Activity Limits, later.
At-risk rulesPassive activityLosses from passive activities are first subject to the at-risk rules. At-risk rules limit the amount of
deductible losses from holding most real property placed in service after 1986.
Exception.Limits:Passive activity losses and credits
If your rental losses are less than $25,000, and you actively participated in the rental activity, the passive activity limits probably do not
apply to you. See Losses From Rental Real Estate Activities, later.
Property used as a home.HomeUse as rental propertyUse of homeUse of home:Passive activity rules exception
If you used the rental property as a home during the year, the passive activity rules do not apply to that home. Instead, you must follow the rules
explained under Personal Use of Dwelling Unit (Including Vacation Home), earlier.
At-Risk RulesGains and losses:At-risk rules
The at-risk rules place a limit on the amount you can deduct as losses from activities often described as tax shelters. Losses from holding real
property (other than mineral property) placed in service before 1987 are not subject to the at-risk rules.
Generally, any loss from an activity subject to the at-risk rules is allowed only to the extent of the total amount you have at risk in the
activity at the end of the tax year. You are considered at risk in an activity to the extent of cash and the adjusted basis of other property you
contributed to the activity and certain amounts borrowed for use in the activity. See Publication 925 for more information.
Passive Activity LimitsDeductionsPassive activity lossesPassive activityGains and losses:Passive activity lossesLimits:Passive activity losses and credits
In general, all rental activities (except those meeting the exception for real estate professionals, below) are passive activities. For this
purpose, a rental activity is an activity from which you receive income mainly for the use of tangible property, rather than for services.
Limits on passive activity deductions and credits.
Deductions for losses from passive activities are limited. You generally cannot offset income, other than passive income, with losses from passive
activities. Nor can you offset taxes on income, other than passive income, with credits resulting from passive activities. Any excess loss or credit
is carried forward to the next tax year.
For a detailed discussion of these rules, see Publication 925.
Form 8582:Passive activity lossesYou may have to complete Form 8582 to figure the amount of any passive activity loss for the current
tax year for all activities and the amount of the passive activity loss allowed on your tax return. See Form 8582 not required under
Losses From Rental Real Estate Activities, later, to determine whether you have to complete Form 8582.
Exception for Real Estate ProfessionalsReal estate professionals:Passive activity rules, exception to
Material participationRental activities in which you materially participated during the year are not passive activities, if for
that year, you were a real estate professional. Losses from these activities are not limited by the passive activity rules.
For this purpose, each interest you have in a rental real estate activity is a separate activity, unless you choose to treat all interests in
rental real estate activities as one activity.
If you were a real estate professional for 2005, complete line 43 of Schedule E (Form 1040).
Real estate professional.Real estate professionals
You qualified as a real estate professional for the tax year if you met both of the following requirements.
More than half of the personal services you performed in all trades or businesses during the tax year were performed in real property trades
or businesses in which you materially participated.
You performed more than 750 hours of services during the tax year in real property trades or businesses in which you materially
participated.
Do not count personal services you performed as an employee in real property trades or businesses unless you were a 5% owner of your employer. You
were a 5% owner if you owned (or are considered to have owned) more than 5% of your employer's outstanding stock, or capital or profits interest.
If you file a joint return, do not count your spouse's personal services to determine whether you met the preceding requirements. However, you can
count your spouse's participation in an activity in determining if you materially participated.
Real property trades or businesses.Real property trades or businesses
A real property trade or business is a trade or business that does any of the following with real property.
Develops or redevelops it.
Constructs or reconstructs it.
Acquires it.
Converts it.
Rents or leases it.
Operates or manages it.
Brokers it.
Material participation.
Generally, you materially participated in an activity for the tax year if you were involved in its operations on a regular, continuous, and
substantial basis during the year. For more information, see Publication 925.
If you are married, determine whether you materially participated in an activity by also counting any participation in the activity by your spouse
during the year. Do this even if your spouse owns no interest in the activity or files a separate return for the year.
Choice to treat all interests as one activity.
If you were a real estate professional and had more than one rental real estate interest during the year, you can choose to treat all the interests
as one activity. You can make this choice for any year that you qualify as a real estate professional. If you forgo making the choice for one year,
you can still make it for a later year.
If you make the choice, it is binding for the tax year you make it and for any later year that you are a real estate professional. This is true
even if you are not a real estate professional in any intervening year. (For that year, the exception for real estate professionals will not apply in
determining whether your activity is subject to the passive activity rules.)
See the instructions for Schedule E (Form 1040) for information about making this choice.
Losses From Rental
Real Estate ActivitiesGains and losses:Rental real estate activitiesRental lossesGains and lossesRental lossesPassive activity
If you or your spouse actively participated in a passive rental real estate activity, you can deduct up to $25,000 of loss from the activity from
your nonpassive income. This special allowance is an exception to the general rule disallowing losses in excess of income from passive activities.
Similarly, you can offset credits from the activity against the tax on up to $25,000 of nonpassive income after taking into account any losses allowed
under this exception.
If you are married, filing a separate return, and lived apart from your spouse for the entire tax year, your special allowance cannot be more than
$12,500. If you lived with your spouse at any time during the year and are filing a separate return, you cannot use the special allowance to reduce
your nonpassive income or tax on nonpassive income.
The maximum amount of the special allowance is reduced if your modified adjusted gross income is more than $100,000 ($50,000 if married filing
separately).
Example.
Jane is single and has $40,000 in wages, $2,000 of passive income from a limited partnership, and $3,500 of passive loss from a rental real estate
activity in which she actively participated. $2,000 of Jane's $3,500 loss offsets her passive income. The remaining $1,500 loss can be deducted from
her $40,000 wages.
Active participation.Active participation
You actively participated in a rental real estate activity if you (and your spouse) owned at least 10% of the rental property and you made
management decisions in a significant and bona fide sense. Management decisions include approving new tenants, deciding on rental terms,
approving expenditures, and similar decisions.
Example.
Mike is single and had the following income and losses during the tax year:
The rental loss resulted from the rental of a house Mike owned. Mike had advertised and rented the house to the current tenant himself. He also
collected the rents, which usually came by mail. All repairs were either done or contracted out by Mike.
Even though the rental loss is a loss from a passive activity, because Mike actively participated in the rental property management, he can use the
entire $4,000 loss to offset his other income.
Maximum special allowancePassive activity:Maximum special allowance
If your modified adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less ($50,000 or less if married filing separately), you can deduct your loss up to $25,000
($12,500 if married filing separately). If your modified adjusted gross income is more than $100,000 (more than $50,000 if married filing separately),
this special allowance is limited to 50% of the difference between $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately) and your modified adjusted gross
income. If your modified adjusted gross income is $150,000 or more ($75,000 or more if you are married filing separately), you generally cannot use
the special allowance.
Modified adjusted gross income.Adjusted gross income (AGI)ModifiedModified adjusted gross income (MAGI)Modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)
This is your adjusted gross income from Form 1040, line 38, figured without taking into account:
Taxable social security or equivalent tier 1 railroad retirement benefits,
Deductible contributions to an IRA or certain other qualified retirement plans,
The exclusion allowed for qualified U.S. savings bond interest used to pay higher educational expenses,
The exclusion allowed for employer-provided adoption benefits,
Any passive activity income or loss included on Form 8582,
Any passive income or loss or any loss allowable by reason of the exception for real estate professionals discussed earlier,
Any overall loss from a publicly traded partnership (see Publicly Traded Partnerships (PTPs) in the instructions for Form
8582),
The deduction for one-half of self-employment tax,
The deduction allowed for interest on student loans,
The deduction for qualified tuition and related expenses, or
The deduction for income attributable to domestic activities (see the instructions for Form 8903).
Form 8582 not required.Form 8582:Passive activity losses
Do not complete Form 8582 if you meet all of the following conditions.
Your only passive activities were rental real estate activities in which you actively participated.
Your overall net loss from these activities is $25,000 or less ($12,500 or less if married filing separately).
You do not have any prior year unallowed losses from any passive activities.
If married filing separately, you lived apart from your spouse all year.
You have no current or prior year unallowed credits from passive activities.
Your modified adjusted gross income is $100,000 or less ($50,000 or less if married filing separately).
You do not hold any interest in a rental real estate activity as a limited partner or as a beneficiary of an estate or a trust.
If you meet all of the conditions listed above, your rental real estate activities are not limited by the passive activity rules and you do not
have to complete Form 8582. Enter each rental real estate loss from line 22 of Schedule E (Form 1040) on line 23 of Schedule E.
If you do not meet all of the conditions listed above, see the instructions for Form 8582 to find out if you must complete and attach that form to
your tax return.
Form 1040:Rental income and expensesRental income:ReportingHow To Report
Rental Income
and Expenses
If you rent buildings, rooms, or apartments, and provide only heat and light, trash collection, etc., you normally report your rental income and
expenses on Schedule E (Form 1040), Part I. However, do not use that schedule to report a not-for-profit activity. See Not Rented For
Profit, earlier.
If you provide significant services that are primarily for your tenant's convenience, such as regular cleaning, changing linen, or maid service,
you report your rental income and expenses on Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business or Schedule C-EZ, Net Profit From Business.
Significant services do not include the furnishing of heat and light, cleaning of public areas, trash collection, etc. For information, see
Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C or C-EZ). You also may have to pay self-employment tax on your
rental income. See chapter 10 in Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business.
Schedule E (Form 1040)Form 1040:Schedule E
Use Schedule E (Form 1040), Part I, to report your rental income and expenses. List your total income, expenses, and depreciation for each rental
property. Be sure to answer the question on line 2.
If you have more than three rental or royalty properties, complete and attach as many Schedules E as are needed to list the properties. Complete
lines 1 and 2 for each property. However, fill in the Totals column on only one Schedule E. The figures in the Totals column on that
Schedule E should be the combined totals of all Schedules E.
Page 2 of Schedule E is used to report income or loss from partnerships, S corporations, estates, trusts, and real estate mortgage investment
conduits. If you need to use page 2 of Schedule E, use page 2 of the same Schedule E you used to enter the combined totals in Part I.
On Schedule E, page 1, line 20, enter the depreciation you are claiming. You must complete and attach Form 4562 for rental activities only if you
are claiming:
Depreciation on property placed in service during 2005,
Depreciation on listed property (such as a car), regardless of when it was placed in service, or
Any car expenses reported on a form other than Schedule C or C-EZ (Form 1040) or Form 2106 or Form 2106-EZ.
Otherwise, figure your depreciation on your own worksheet. You do not have to attach these computations to your return.
Illustrated Example
In January, Eileen Johnson bought a condominium apartment to live in. Instead of selling the house she had been living in, she decided to change it
to rental property. Eileen selected a tenant and started renting the house on February 1. Eileen charges $750 a month for rent and collects it
herself. Eileen received a $750 security deposit from her tenant. Because she plans to return it to her tenant at the end of the lease, she does not
include it in her income. Her house expenses for the year are as follows:
Eileen must divide the real estate taxes, mortgage interest, and fire insurance between the personal use of the property and the rental use of the
property. She can deduct eleven-twelfths of these expenses as rental expenses. She can include the balance of the allowable taxes and mortgage
interest on Schedule A (Form 1040) if she itemizes. She cannot deduct the balance of the fire insurance because it is a personal expense.
Eileen bought this house in 1980 for $35,000. Her property tax was based on assessed values of $10,000 for the land and $25,000 for the house.
Before changing it to rental property, Eileen added several improvements to the house. She figures her adjusted basis as follows:
ImprovementsCostHouse$25,000Remodeled kitchen4,200Recreation room5,800New roof1,600Patio and deck2,400Adjusted basis$39,000
On February 1, when Eileen changed her house to rental property, the property had a fair market value of $152,000. Of this amount, $35,000 was for
the land and $117,000 was for the house.
Because Eileen's adjusted basis is less than the fair market value on the date of the change, Eileen uses $39,000 as her basis for depreciation.
Because the house is residential rental property, she must use the straight line method of depreciation using either the GDS recovery period or the
ADS recovery period. She chooses the GDS recovery period of 27.5 years.
She uses Table 4-D to find her depreciation percentage. Because she placed the property in service in February, she finds the percentage to be
3.182%.
On April 1, Eileen bought a new dishwasher for the rental property at a cost of $425. The dishwasher is personal property used in a rental real
estate activity, which has a 5-year recovery period. She uses the percentage under Half-year convention in Table 4-A to figure her MACRS
depreciation deduction for the dishwasher.
On May 1, Eileen paid $4,000 to have a furnace installed in the house. The furnace is residential rental property. Because she placed the property
in service in May, she finds the percentage from Table 4-D to be 2.273%.
Eileen figures her net rental income or loss for the house as follows:
Total rental income received
($750 × 11)$8,250Minus: ExpensesMortgage interest ($1,800 × )$1,650Fire insurance ($100 × )92Miscellaneous repairs297Real estate taxes ($1,200 × )1,100Total expenses3,139Balance$5,111Minus: DepreciationHouse ($39,000 × 3.182%)$1,241Dishwasher ($425 × 20%)85Furnace ($4,000 × 2.273%)91Total depreciation1,417Net rental income for house$3,694
Eileen uses Schedule E (Form 1040), Part I, to report her rental income and expenses. She enters her income, expenses, and depreciation for the
house in the column for Property A. She uses Form 4562 to figure and report her depreciation. Eileen's Schedule E (Form 1040) is shown next. Her Form
4562 is not shown. See Publication 946 for information on how to prepare Form 4562.
Schedule E (Form 1040) Supplemental Income and Loss 2005Summary: This is an example of Schedule E (Form 1040) 2005 as pertains to the example in the text. The line items are completed as
follows:Name(s) shown on return field contains Eileen JohnsonYour social security number field contains 123-00-4567Under
Part I: Income or Loss From Rental Real Estate and Royalties:1A. Show the kind and location of each rental real estate property field containsBrick House123 Main Street, Hometown, Minnesota 562002A. For each rental real estate property listed on line 1, did you or your family use it during the tax year for personal purposes for more
than the greater of 14 days or 10% of the total days rented at fair rental value? (See page E-3.) No checkbox checkedUnder
Income:3. Rents receivedProperties A field contains 8,250Totals (Add columns A, B, and C.) field contains 8,250Under
Expenses:9. Insurance--Properties A field contains 9212. Mortgage interest paid to banks, etcetera. (see page E-4)Properties A field contains 1,650Totals (Add columns A, B, and C.) field contains 1,65014. Repairs--Properties A field contains 29716. Taxes--Properties A field contains 1,10019. Add lines 5 through 18Properties A field contains 3,139Totals (Add columns A, B, and C.) field contains 3,13920. Depreciation expense or depletion (see page E-4)Properties A field contains 1,587Totals (Add columns A, B, and C.) field contains 1,58721. Total expenses. Add lines 19 and 20 field contains 4,72622. Income or (loss) from rental real estate or royalty properties. Subtract line 21 from line 3 (rents) or line 4 (royalties). If the result
is a (loss), see page E-4 to find out if you must file Form 6198 field contains 3,52424. Income. Add positive amounts shown on line 22. Do not include any losses field contains 3,52426. Total rental real estate and royalty income or (loss). Combine lines 24 and 25. Enter the result here. If Parts II, III, IV, and line 40
on page 2 do not apply to you, also enter this amount on Form 1040, line 17. Otherwise, include this amount in the total on line 40 on page 2
field contains 3,524How To Get Tax HelpMore informationTax helpFree tax servicesTax helpHelpTax helpAssistanceTax helpPublicationsTax helpTTY/TDD information
You can get help with unresolved tax issues, order free publications and forms, ask tax questions, and get more information from the IRS in several
ways. By selecting the method that is best for you, you will have quick and easy access to tax help.
Contacting your Taxpayer Advocate.Taxpayer Advocate
If you have attempted to deal with an IRS problem unsuccessfully, you should contact your Taxpayer Advocate.
The Taxpayer Advocate independently represents your interests and concerns within the IRS by protecting your rights and resolving problems that
have not been fixed through normal channels. While Taxpayer Advocates cannot change the tax law or make a technical tax decision, they can clear up
problems that resulted from previous contacts and ensure that your case is given a complete and impartial review.
To contact your Taxpayer Advocate:
Call the Taxpayer Advocate toll free at
1-877-777-4778.
Call, write, or fax the Taxpayer Advocate office in your area.
For more information, see Publication 1546, How To Get Help With Unresolved Tax Problems (now available in Chinese, Korean, Russian, and
Vietnamese, in addition to English and Spanish).
Free tax services.
To find out what services are available, get Publication 910, IRS Guide to Free Tax Services. It contains a list of free tax publications and an
index of tax topics. It also describes other free tax information services, including tax education and assistance programs and a list of TeleTax
topics.
Internet. You can access the IRS website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at
www.irs.gov to:
E-file your return. Find out about commercial tax preparation and e-file services available free to eligible
taxpayers.
Check the status of your 2005 refund. Click on Where's My Refund. Be sure to wait at least 6 weeks from the date you filed your
return (3 weeks if you filed electronically). Have your 2005 tax return available because you will need to know your social security number, your
filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of your refund.
Download forms, instructions, and publications.
Order IRS products online.
Research your tax questions online.
Search publications online by topic or keyword.
View Internal Revenue Bulletins (IRBs) published in the last few years.
Figure your withholding allowances using our Form W-4 calculator.
Sign up to receive local and national tax news by email.
Get information on starting and operating a small business.
Phone. Many services are available by phone.
Ordering forms, instructions, and publications. Call 1-800-829-3676 to order current-year forms, instructions, and publications
and prior-year forms and instructions. You should receive your order within 10 days.
Asking tax questions. Call the IRS with your tax questions at 1-800-829-1040.
Solving problems. You can get face-to-face help solving tax problems every business day in IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers. An
employee can explain IRS letters, request adjustments to your account, or help you set up a payment plan. Call your local Taxpayer Assistance Center
for an appointment. To find the number, go to
www.irs.gov/localcontacts or
look in the phone book under United States Government, Internal Revenue Service.
TTY/TDD equipment. If you have access to TTY/TDD equipment, call 1-800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and
publications.
TeleTax topics. Call 1-800-829-4477 and press 2 to listen to pre-recorded messages covering various tax topics.
Refund information. If you would like to check the status of your 2005 refund, call 1-800-829-4477 and press 1 for automated
refund information or call 1-800-829-1954. Be sure to wait at least 6 weeks from the date you filed your return (3 weeks if you filed electronically).
Have your 2005 tax return available because you will need to know your social security number, your filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount
of your refund.
Evaluating the quality of our telephone services. To ensure that IRS representatives give accurate, courteous, and professional answers,
we use several methods to evaluate the quality of our telephone services. One method is for a second IRS representative to sometimes listen in on or
record telephone calls. Another is to ask some callers to complete a short survey at the end of the call.
Walk-in. Many products and services are available on a walk-in basis.
Products. You can walk in to many post offices, libraries, and IRS offices to pick up certain forms, instructions, and
publications. Some IRS offices, libraries, grocery stores, copy centers, city and county government offices, credit unions, and office supply stores
have a collection of products available to print from a CD-ROM or photocopy from reproducible proofs. Also, some IRS offices and libraries have the
Internal Revenue Code, regulations, Internal Revenue Bulletins, and Cumulative Bulletins available for research purposes.
Services. You can walk in to your local Taxpayer Assistance Center every business day for personal, face-to-face tax help. An
employee can explain IRS letters, request adjustments to your tax account, or help you set up a payment plan. If you need to resolve a tax problem,
have questions about how the tax law applies to your individual tax return, or you're more comfortable talking with someone in person, visit your
local Taxpayer Assistance Center where you can spread out your records and talk with an IRS representative face-to-face. No appointment is necessary,
but if you prefer, you can call your local Center and leave a message requesting an appointment to resolve a tax account issue. A representative will
call you back within 2 business days to schedule an in-person appointment at your convenience. To find the number, go to
www.irs.gov/localcontacts or
look in the phone book under United States Government, Internal Revenue Service.
Mail. You can send your order for forms, instructions, and publications to the address below and receive a response within 10 business
days after your request is received.
National Distribution Center
P.O. Box 8903
Bloomington, IL 61702-8903
CD-ROM for tax products. You can order Publication 1796, IRS Tax Products CD-ROM, and obtain:
A CD that is released twice so you have the latest products. The first release ships in late December and the final release ships in late
February.
Current-year forms, instructions, and publications.
Prior-year forms, instructions, and publications.
Tax Map: an electronic research tool and finding aid.
Tax law frequently asked questions (FAQs).
Tax Topics from the IRS telephone response system.
Fill-in, print, and save features for most tax forms.
Internal Revenue Bulletins.
Toll-free and email technical support.
Buy the CD-ROM from National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at
www.irs.gov/cdorders for $25 (no handling fee) or call 1-877-233-6767 toll free to buy the CD-ROM for $25 (plus a $5 handling fee).
CD-ROM for small businesses. Publication 3207, The Small Business Resource Guide CD-ROM for 2005, has a new look and enhanced navigation
features. This year's CD includes:
Helpful information, such as how to prepare a business plan, find financing for your business, and much more.
All the business tax forms, instructions, and publications needed to successfully manage a business.
Tax law changes for 2005.
IRS Tax Map to help you find forms, instructions, and publications by searching on a keyword or topic.
Web links to various government agencies, business associations, and IRS organizations.
Rate the Product survey—your opportunity to suggest changes for future editions.
An updated version of this CD is available each year in early April. You can get a free copy by calling 1-800-829-3676 or by visiting
www.irs.gov/smallbiz.
Tax Publications for Individual Taxpayers
<IMARK><ROM>See <ITL>How To Get Tax Help</ITL> for a variety of ways to get publications, including by computer, phone, and mail.</ROM>
General Guides1Your Rights as a Taxpayer17Your Federal Income Tax (For Individuals)334Tax Guide for Small Business (For Individuals Who Use Schedule C or C-EZ509Tax Calendars for 2006553Highlights of 2005 Tax Changes910Guide to Free Tax ServicesSpecialized Publication3Armed Forces' Tax Guide54Tax Guide for United States Citizens and Residents Aliens Abroa225Farmer's Tax Guide463Travel, Entertainment, Gift, and Car Expenses501Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information502Medical and Dental Expenses503Child and Dependent Care Expenses504Divorced or Separated Individuals505Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax508Tax Benefits for Work-Related Education514Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals516 United States Government Civilian Employees Stationed Abroad517Social Security and Other Information for Members of the Clergy and Religious Workers519United States Tax Guide for Aliens520Scholarships and Fellowships521Moving Expenses523Selling Your Home524Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled525Taxable and Nontaxable Income526Charitable Contributions527Residential Rental Property529Miscellaneous Deductions530Tax Information for First-Time Homeowners531Reporting Tip Income534Depreciating Property Placed in Service Before 1987536Net Operating Losses for Individuals, Estates, and Trusts537Installment Sales541Partnerships544Sales and Other Dispositions of Assets547Casualties, Disasters, and Thefts550Investment Income and Expenses551Basis of Assets552Recordkeeping for Individuals554Older Americans' Tax Guide555Community Property556Examination of Returns, Appeal Rights, and Claims for Refund559Survivors, Executors, and Administrators561Determining the Value of Donated Property564Mutual Fund Distributions570Tax Guide for Individuals With Income From United States Possessions571Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans (403(b) Plans)575Pension and Annuity Income584Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook (Personal-Use Property)587Business Use of Your Home (Including Use by Day-care Providers)590Individual Retirement Arrangements593Tax Highlights for United States Citizens and Residents Going Abroad594The Internal Revenue Service Collection Process596Earned Income Credit721Tax Guide to United States Civil Service Retirement Benefits901United States Tax Treaties907Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities908Bankruptcy Tax Guide915Social Security and Equivalent Railroad Retirement Benefits919How Do I Adjust My Tax Withholding?925Passive Activity and At-Risk Rules926Household Employer's Tax Guide929Tax Rules for Children and Dependents936Home Mortgage Interest Deduction946How To Depreciate Property947Practice Before the Internal Revenue Service and Power of Attorney950Introduction to Estate and Gift Taxes967Internal Revenue Service Will Figure Your Tax969Medical Savings Accounts970Tax Benefits for Education971Innocent Spouse Relief972Child Tax Credit (For Individuals Sent Here From the Form 1040 or 1040A Instructions)1542Per Diem Rates1544Reporting Cash Payments of Over $10,000 1546The Taxpayer Advocate Service of the Internal Revenue ServiceSpanish Language Publications1SPDerechos del Contribuyente579SPCómo Preparar la Declaración de Impuesto Federal594SPQué es lo que Debemos Saber sobre el Proceso de Cobro del IRS596SPCrédito por Ingreso del Trabajo850English-Spanish Glossary of Words and Phrases Used in Publications Issued by the Internal Revenue Service1544SPInforme de Pagos en Efectivo en Exceso de $10,000 (Recibidos en una Ocupación o
Negocio)
Commonly Used Tax Forms
<IMARK><ROM>See <ITL>How To Get Tax Help</ITL> for a variety of ways to get forms, including by computer, phone, and mail.</ROM>
Form Number and Form Title1040United States Individual Income Tax Return Schedule A & B Itemized Deductions & Interest and Ordinary Dividends Schedule C Profit or Loss From Business Schedule C-EZ Net Profit From Business Schedule D Capital Gains and Losses Schedule D-1 Continuation Sheet for Schedule D Schedule E Supplemental Income and Loss Schedule EIC Earned Income Credit Schedule F Profit or Loss From Farming Schedule H Household Employment Taxes Schedule J Income Averaging For Farmers and Fishermen Schedule R Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled Schedule SE Self-Employment Tax 1040AUnited States Individual Income Tax Return Schedule 1 Interest and Ordinary Dividends for Form 1040A Filers Schedule 2 Child and Dependent Care Expenses for Form 1040A Filers Schedule 3 Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled for Form 1040A Filers1040EZIncome Tax Return for Single and Joint Filers With No Dependents1040-ESEstimated Tax for Individuals
Form Number and Form Title1040XAmended United States Individual Income Tax Return2106Employee Business Expenses2106-EZUnreimbursed Employee Business Expenses2210Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates, and Trusts2441Child and Dependent Care Expenses2848Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative 3903Moving Expenses4562Depreciation and Amortization4868Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File United States Individual Income Tax Return4952Investment Interest Expense Deduction5329Additional Taxes on Qualified Plans (including Individual Retirement Arrangements) and Other Tax-Favored
Accounts6251Alternative Minimum Tax--Individuals8283Non-cash Charitable Contributions8582Passive Activity Loss Limitations8606Nondeductible Individual Retirement Arrangements8812Additional Child Tax Credit8822Change of Address8829Expenses for Business Use of Your Home8863Education Credits9465Installment Agreement Request
