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mdbctb
Returning Member

Don't know the accumulated depreciation on rental property sale

My husband just sold his rental property in 2021 that he has owned since 2006. Taxes filed via TT since 2016. Do I add the depreciation taken on Schedule E for those years or is there something on Form 4562 that shows cumulated? We don't know the depreciation taken prior as he know longer has those tax records. Do we just calculate the basis/ 27.5 for those years we don't know? Help! What happens if incorrect accumulated depreciation is files? For the Basis, I know its the purchase price + qualifying closing costs. Do we also add "permanent" improvements (they were already claimed as improvements on prior tax years.)

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5 Replies
Carl
Level 15

Don't know the accumulated depreciation on rental property sale

What happens if incorrect accumulated depreciation is files?

Usually, it'll take a few years after filing before it catches up to you. Then the bite in the wallet will hurt.

Assuming the property was always a rental since 2006 through 2021, look for two form 4562's in your 2021 return. They both print in landscape format. One is titled "Depreciation and Amortization Report" and is probably the only one you need. The other is "Alternative Minimum Tax Depreciation Report" and you'll need that data only if the program asks you for it.

The 4562 will show you the total of all depreciation taken on each listed asset in prior years in the "prior years depr" column, with the 2021 depreciation in the "current year depr" column. Just add them up for the total depreciation taken.

If this property was still classified as a rental in 2021, then you can just report the sale in the SCH E section of the program and the program will take care of all the recapture and PAL "for you" in the background. Here's the general guidance.

Reporting the Sale of Rental Property

If you qualify for the "lived in 2 of last 5 years" capital gains exclusion, then when prompted you WILL indicate that this sale DOES INCLUDE the sale of your main home. For AD MIL personnel who don't qualify because of PCS orders, select this option anyway, because you "MIGHT" qualify for at last a partial exclusion.

Start working through Rental & Royalty Income (SCH E) "AS IF" you did not sell the property. One of the screens near the start will have a selection on it for "I sold or otherwise disposed of this property in  2021". Select it. After you select the "I sold or otherwise disposed of this property in 2021" you continue working it through "as if" you still own it. When you come to the summary screen you will enter all of your rental income and expenses, even if it's zero. Then you MUST work through the "Sale of Property/Depreciation" section. You must work through each individual asset one at a time to report its disposition (in your case, all your rental assets were sold).

Understand that if more than the property itself is listed in your assets list, then you need to allocate your sales price across all of your assets.  You will only allocate the structure sales price; you will NOT allocate the land sales price, since the land is not a depreciable asset.  Then if you sold this rental at a gain, you must show a gain on all assets, even if that gain is $1 on some assets. Likewise, if you sold at a loss then you must show a loss on all assets, even if that loss is $1 on some assets.

Basically, when working through an asset you select the option for "I stopped using this asset in 2021" and go from there. Note that you MUST do this for EACH AND EVERY asset listed.

When you finish working through everything listed in the assets section, if you ever at any time you owned this rental you claimed vehicle expenses, then you must also work through the vehicle section and show the disposition of the vehicle. Most likely, your vehicle disposition will be "removed for personal use", as I seriously doubt you sold your vehicle as a part of this rental sale.

 

Don't know the accumulated depreciation on rental property sale

Since you indicate you don't have the records indicating cumulative depreciation taken, what month did you place it in service in 2006?

I assume it is residential rental property?

*A reminder that posts in a forum such as this do not constitute tax advice.
Also keep in mind the date of replies, as tax law changes.
mdbctb
Returning Member

Don't know the accumulated depreciation on rental property sale

february 1, 2006

Don't know the accumulated depreciation on rental property sale


@mdbctb wrote:

We don't know the depreciation taken prior as he know longer has those tax records. 


In that event, you have to use the amount of depreciation allowable.

 

See Treas. Reg. §1.1016-3(a)

Don't know the accumulated depreciation on rental property sale

Based on your placed in service date, you should have taken the following depreciation:

  • First year (2006) 3.182% (example - if adjusted basis is $75,000, then depreciation will be $2,386.50)
  • Years 2007 through 2014 3.636% (each year thereafter same computation using the % noted)
  • 2015 3.637%
  • 2016 3.636%
  • 2017 3.637%
  • 2018 3.636%
  • 2019 3.637%
  • 2020 3.636%
  • 2021 - just put in the date sold and TT will compute the depreciation
  • You can now adjust accumulated depreciation as needed for TT to compute the correct Section 1250 depreciation recapture.
*A reminder that posts in a forum such as this do not constitute tax advice.
Also keep in mind the date of replies, as tax law changes.

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