For my rental property, I pay a monthly fee to rent a water softener as opposed to buying the softener. How do I categorize this? Utility expense or maintenance?

[MichaelL1 · Accepted solution]

I would include it as monthly maintenance expense, however it could go under either.

It is deductible so the main thing is be consistent year to year where you deduct it.

The reason for the consistency is it help prevent you overlooking something from one year to the next.

That is why I like to compare current year to prior year for both income and expenses to make sure everything that needs to be listed is listed.