For rental property is replacing smoke alarms a maintenance or repair expense?

[DanielV01]

Maintenance is probably slightly more accurate, although it could also be labeled as supplies, and even calling them repairs would not necessarily be wron..  Truth be told, the IRS is not going to look too closely at this, because they are similar categories.  What they would look at is if you were trying to expense an item that really needs to be depreciated.  That's not the case with smoke alarms.  You will be able to claim the full expense for these, assuming you are renting a single family home or even a duplex unit.  (If you have a whole computerized fire-alarm system in a multi-unit apartment building.  That could be different.  If you have a system that's larger scale, please feel free to comment.)

[ipc1]

The two smoke alarms (which are not in the kitchen) were replaced by the electrician after he had finished the wiring for a kitchen renovation, the wiring will be depreciated.  The smoke alarms are itemized separately from the wiring on the invoice. Does the answer that the alarm can be expensed still apply?

[DanielV01]

The key is you can't claim on both.  The actual smoke alarms do not need to be depreciated, but if you include the amount with the price of the remodel as a whole, then they are depreciated for that reason

[ipc1]

I would depreciate the cost of the kitchen wiring, and expense the cost of the alarms, would that be ok?

[DanielV01]

If your alarms are stated separately, yes, you could do that.