Taxes & Accounting
Deductions, basis, Schedule E, and staying audit-ready.
How to File an Amended Return for a Missed Rental Deduction
An amended return lets you recover a missed rental deduction — you have a limited claim window, specific forms to file, and supporting docs to attach.
Are Advertising and Vacancy Costs Tax-Deductible?
Advertising costs and many vacancy-period expenses are deductible if the property is held out for rent — here's what qualifies and how to document it.
Solo 401(k) for Real Estate Investors
A Solo 401(k) can hold real estate — providing tax-advantaged returns and huge contribution limits — but the rules on prohibited transactions and self-dealing are strict.
Rental Loss Carryforward Rules Explained
Rental losses you can't use this year don't disappear — they carry forward indefinitely as suspended passive losses, available against future rental income or fully deductible at sale.
Real Estate Professional Status — How to Qualify
Qualifying as a real estate professional flips your rental activity from passive to active — letting you deduct rental losses against ordinary income without the $25K passive-loss cap.
QBI Deduction for Rental Property Owners
Rental income can qualify for the 20% Qualified Business Income deduction — but only if your rental activity rises to the level of a trade or business under IRS Section 199A.
The $25,000 Passive Loss Allowance for Landlords
Rental losses are passive by default and only offset passive income — except for the $25,000 special allowance for active participants earning under $150K, which can offset ordinary income.
Mortgage Interest Deduction Rules for 2026
The mortgage interest deduction is capped at loans up to $750K for post-2017 mortgages, and only helps if your total itemized deductions exceed the standard deduction.
Landlord Mileage Log for Taxes
The IRS requires a contemporaneous log of business miles — date, purpose, start/end mileage. Miss the log and the deduction is disallowed on audit.
Homestead Exemption vs Property Tax Exemption
Homestead exemption and generic property tax exemptions are different tools — one protects against creditors and reduces taxes, the other only reduces taxes.
Home Office Deduction for Landlord Bookkeeping
If you manage your rentals from a dedicated home office, you may deduct a portion of your home expenses — but only if the space passes the IRS's "regular and exclusive" test.
Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments for Rental Income
If your rental produces taxable profit and you underpay federal tax by more than $1,000, the IRS charges an underpayment penalty — quarterly estimated payments avoid it.
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