Skip to main content
Level 1
April 14, 2022
Solved

Calculating expense deductions with a vacancy

  • April 14, 2022
  • 2 replies
  • 60 views

We have a 3 unit multifamily and live in one unit. One unit is rented and the other was vacant for all of 2021. The empty unit is having some repair work done. -Under “Let Us Calculate Expenses Deductions” (where rental use % is entered ). Do we indicate 1/3rd or 2/3rds? (Because two units are exclusively for rental.)  Or do we only indicate 1/3 because one unit was vacant in 2021? It’s confusing because of the instruction “Just enter the % of your property rented out.” or the tax year only?

    Best answer by JulieS

    It depends on why the property was vacant all year. 

     

    If you withdrew the unit from the market for the entire year due to repairs or remodeling, enter one third. 

     

    If you withdrew the property for a while in 2021 for repairs, but it was available and not rented for part of 2021, enter two thirds.

    2 replies

    JulieSAnswer
    Level 15
    April 14, 2022

    It depends on why the property was vacant all year. 

     

    If you withdrew the unit from the market for the entire year due to repairs or remodeling, enter one third. 

     

    If you withdrew the property for a while in 2021 for repairs, but it was available and not rented for part of 2021, enter two thirds.

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
    Level 2
    April 14, 2022

    Thanks! That clarifies it!🤗

    Follow up question: I understand that the fees, as well as points, are deductible for rental property over the term of the mortgage. I entered the mortgage interest and points in their own data specific fields. But I entered the fees and loan costs with the other depreciable assets.

    I made two entries. "Processing Fees", which is the points processing fee. (Not the points itself) and "Services" which include all the rest: title ins. appraisal, credit etc.

    I took 2/3 (.666) of the refi costs (points processing fee, appraisal, title fee etc.) and listed them under "amortizable intangibles", Code Section 163 over 30 years. The span of the mortgage.

    Does that seem the right way to enter this info? TurboTax didn't flag anything, but I'd appreciate confirmation.

    Thanks again-Dean