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Returning Member
posted Jun 3, 2019 12:50:13 PM

Made several trips to my rental property to make improvements which I did myself. Am I able to take vehicle mileage for all the trips and meal allowances?

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1 Best answer
Level 15
Jun 3, 2019 12:50:15 PM

If the trips were for maintenance work and other general work on the rental they are deductible.

If it was an improvement that needs to be capitalized such as all new windows or a roof put on then the trips are added to the cost of the major improvements and capitalized and then depreciation taken.

Standard mileage rate. For 2017, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car for business use is 53.5 cents (0.535) per mile.

For the meals, yes, you can.  See below for a section from the IRS publication 463.

Standard Meal Allowance

Generally, you can use the "standard meal allowance" method as an alternative to the actual cost method. It allows you to use a set amount for your daily meals and incidental expenses (M&IE), instead of keeping records of your actual costs. The set amount varies depending on where and when you travel. In this publication, "standard meal allowance" refers to the federal rate for M&IE, discussed later under Amount of standard meal allowance . If you use the standard meal allowance, you still must keep records to prove the time, place, and business purpose of your travel. See the recordkeeping rules for travel in chapter 5.

Source:  https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463#en_US_2017_publink100033785

1 Replies
Level 15
Jun 3, 2019 12:50:15 PM

If the trips were for maintenance work and other general work on the rental they are deductible.

If it was an improvement that needs to be capitalized such as all new windows or a roof put on then the trips are added to the cost of the major improvements and capitalized and then depreciation taken.

Standard mileage rate. For 2017, the standard mileage rate for the cost of operating your car for business use is 53.5 cents (0.535) per mile.

For the meals, yes, you can.  See below for a section from the IRS publication 463.

Standard Meal Allowance

Generally, you can use the "standard meal allowance" method as an alternative to the actual cost method. It allows you to use a set amount for your daily meals and incidental expenses (M&IE), instead of keeping records of your actual costs. The set amount varies depending on where and when you travel. In this publication, "standard meal allowance" refers to the federal rate for M&IE, discussed later under Amount of standard meal allowance . If you use the standard meal allowance, you still must keep records to prove the time, place, and business purpose of your travel. See the recordkeeping rules for travel in chapter 5.

Source:  https://www.irs.gov/publications/p463#en_US_2017_publink100033785