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How Rental Property Depreciation Works

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Investment in rental property has emerged a beneficial financial decision. A rental property can be a stable source of earning for beginners. One can reap tax benefits as well on the rental property benefits. You can cut the rental expenditures from the earning of rental income thus bringing down your tax liability. Meanwhile, the other important tax deduction meant for depreciation works in a different way.  Depreciation can be defined as a process which is used for deducting the expenditure of purchasing and renovating a rental property. Instead of taking a single deduction in the year you buy or renovate the property, depreciation distributes deduction throughout the life of the property. Given below are the factors how depreciation for residential rental property works:

1. Which Property is Depreciable?

You must find out first which property is depreciable. As per the rules of IRS, you can depreciate the property if:

  • You are the owner of the property even if it is liable to a debt.
  • You are using it for any income-generating act or business purpose.
  • Property has got a determined useful life and loses its worth as a result of natural factors.
  • The property may last for more than a year.

2. When Will Depreciation Start?

When a property falls in the category of service or is ready to use as a rental property, you can apply depreciation deductions. You may continue to depreciate the property until any one of the conditions mentioned below are met:

  • If you have deducted all the cost or other bases in the concerned property
  • You leave the property from service even if you could not recover the entire cost or other bases. The property will be retired from service the moment it is not being used as an income-generating property. When you destroy it, convert it or leave it, the property will be retired from service. The property report will provide more information regarding when the property may be retired from service.

Depreciation methods:

There are three factors that will help you decide the amount of depreciation you will be able to deduct every year. These methods are the basis in the property, recovery period, and depreciation method.

Given below are the basic steps:

  • Determine basis of the property: Basis of the property is the cost of the property or money you shelled out in cash or mortgage to buy it. Settlement fees, closing costs which may include legal fees, transfer taxes, etc. are included in the basis.
  • Separate land cost and buildings: You can only depreciate the cost of building and not land, so you must calculate the value of each to depreciate the exact amount. You may require the help of experts to prepare a rental property depreciation report.
  • Decide your basis in the house: When you find out the basis of the property and value of the house, you will be able to find out your basis in the house.
  • Decide adjusted basis if required: There are possibilities that you may need to make an increase or decrease to your basis for some occasions. The occasions may take place between the times when you purchase the property until it is ready to be rented.

Final Thoughts:

Depreciation has emerged as a useful method in case you invest in rental properties. It distributes the cost of acquiring the property in the coming years and brings down every year’s tax liability. However, rental property laws witness frequent changes. Therefore, you must work with an expert tax accountant when building, operating or selling your rental property. They will also explain all of the important details of depreciation residential rental property which will prove extremely helpful.

4 common rental property depreciation questions

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We answer rental property depreciation questions on a daily basis here at Deppro, and some have popped up more than others. If you’re new to the tax depreciation world, or just need a refresher to jog your memory, read on.

 

 

  • What’s the difference between ongoing and capital expenses?

 

When you hire a property manager, pay for advertising and cleaning, alongside various fees and rates for council and the like, they’re ongoing expenses.

Capital expenses contribute directly to your rental property depreciation. Capital works like the rendering of the building, any electrical work or appliances installed are eligible.

 

 

  • How can I measure depreciation potential?

 

You can go the old fashioned route and crunch the numbers yourself, but what’s the point if you don’t have to? Deppro has a free online depreciation estimate tool that’s trusted by investors, tax agents, and real estate professionals. You’ll need the following information:

  • Date of construction
  • Purchase price
  • Floor area
  • Location
  • Type of structure

 

 

  • Can I claim depreciation on previous renovations?

 

Yes you can! The beauty of rental property depreciation is you can claim existing works on any structure built after 1987, regardless of who completed them. You own the building after settlement, so the plant & equipment and capital works depreciation are yours.

 

 

  • What can I deduct at tax time?

 

This is one of the rental property depreciation questions we can’t answer. If you’re looking to claim deductions for your tax return, it’s better to ask your accountant. They’ll have your existing portfolio, previous tax history, and the other information they need to give you a better answer.

What you can depreciate is another matter. For example, if a tenant has caused damage to the property and you need to conduct capital works to fix them. You’ll have to make adjustments to the depreciation schedule, but you can claim depreciation on the works for as long as you own the property.

 

Customers rely on Deppro to answer their rental property depreciation questions before and after adding to their portfolios. Our blog has extensive advice on a range of topics and we’re available anytime over phone, or at our offices in capital cities around Australia.