The below article is geared towards owning investment property and not qualifying as a real estate professional. Those regulations will be covered in different articles or you are welcome to contact our office to discuss the qualifications.
Investing in residential rental properties raises various tax issues that can be somewhat confusing, especially if you are not a real estate professional. Some of the more important issues rental property investors will want to be aware of are discussed below.
Rental Losses
Currently, the owner of a residential rental property may depreciate the building over a 27½-year period. For example, a property acquired for $200,000 could generate a depreciation deduction of as much as $7,273 per year. Additional depreciation deductions may be available for furnishings provided with the rental property. When large depreciation deductions are added to other rental expenses, it’s not uncommon for a rental activity to generate a tax loss. The question then becomes whether that loss is deductible.
$25,000 Loss Limitation
The tax law generally treats real estate rental losses as “passive” and therefore available only for offsetting any passive income an individual taxpayer may have. However, a limited exception is available where an individual holds at least a 10% ownership interest in the property and “actively participates” in the rental activity. In this situation, up to $25,000 of passive rental losses may be used to offset nonpassive income, such as wages from a job. (The $25,000 loss allowance phases out with modified adjusted gross income between $100,000 and $150,000.) Passive activity losses that are not currently deductible are carried forward to future tax years.
What constitutes active participation? The IRS describes it as “participating in making management decisions or arranging for others to provide services (such as repairs) in a significant and bona fide sense.” Examples of such management decisions provided by the IRS include approving tenants and deciding on rental terms.
Current tax law specifies regulations to determine if your rental real estate investments are applicable for the Qualified Business Income Deduction. This can be challenging to navigate, but our team of advisors are able to help you determine if your investments are able to take this additional 20% deduction.
Selling the Property
A gain realized on the sale of residential rental property held for investment is generally taxed as a capital gain. If the gain is long term, it is taxed at a favorable capital gains rate. However, the IRS requires that any allowable depreciation be “recaptured” and taxed at a 25% maximum rate rather than the 15% (or 20%) long-term capital gains rate that generally applies.
It is always recommended to consult with our team prior to selling a property. It enables us to analyze the potential gain and amount of cash you will put in your pocket after paying off the debt, taxes, etc.
Exclusion of Gain
The tax law has a generous exclusion for gain from the sale of a principal residence. Generally, taxpayers may exclude up to $250,000 ($500,000 for certain joint filers) of their gain, provided they have owned and used the property as a principal residence for two out of the five years preceding the sale.
After the exclusion was enacted, some landlords moved into their properties and established the properties as their principal residences to make use of the home sale exclusion. However, Congress subsequently changed the rules for sales completed after 2008. Under the current rules, gain will be taxable to the extent the property was not used as the taxpayer’s principal residence after 2008.
This rule can be a trap for the unwary. For example, a couple might buy a vacation home and rent the property out to help finance the purchase. Later, upon retirement, the couple may turn the vacation home into their principal residence. If the home is subsequently sold, all or part of any gain on the sale could be taxable under the above-described rule.
For real estate investments there is opportunity to rollover a gain via a 1031 exchange. This is similar to trading your four green houses for a red hotel without paying any tax upon sale. There are specific rules with these exchanges that are outside of the scope of this article. You’ll want to consult with a CPA and 1031 exchange expert to ensure it’s done properly.
Real estate is a great investment, but you’ll want to understand all the tax regulations that accompany this vehicle. Our team has extensive knowledge working in all areas of the real estate business. If you’d like to talk to a team member please fill out our consultation form today!