How can I enter the "other income" on my 1099-MISC? It is for pet rent so why can't I enter it for real estate income?

[gataceri]

Unfortunately I just have the online turbo and I can't go in directly to Schedule E to enter this - If it even would allow this.

[Carl]

Not clear on "pet rent". What do you mean here? Was this for renting out your male pet for stud services maybe? What box is the income you received reported in? Box 1 I would expect, but need to confirm.

[gataceri]

box 5. No stud services - it's extra rent in addition to the normal rent payment for my tenant's dog.

[Critter]

If this is for the extra fee for having a pet  ... just add that to the regular rent paid on the Sch E. 

[gataceri]

I think I got this squared away. Problem is with the online program that I am not able to just enter into schedule e - it makes me go through an interview process that doesn't fit.

[Critter]

Well the downloaded version does have the same interview and overrides in the FORMS mode is highly discouraged, voids the accuracy guarantee and may keep you from efiling.

[Carl]

Basically, any and all income received as rent, or related to the rental, is either a deposit or rental income. Period.
For the most part, a deposit is not your money. It belongs to the tenant until such time as you have cause to lay claim to it. Until then, it's not rental income and is not reported as such.

[gataceri]

Thanks Carl. This is rent, not a deposit. But my property manager reported it as "other" (box 5) on the 1099 and Turbo tax won't let me enter the "other" as part of the rental income. I ended up just reporting a separate 1099 under income and include that extra amount. So much trouble for $350 in income...

[Critter]

Just add it in the rent total ... on the Sch E there is only one line for all income sources.

[Carl]

All income received from your renter for any reason, so that they can live in the property being rented, is rental income. Period. Just include the "other" Income in the total rents received and your fine. Then let your property manager know what I've informed you of here, and if they won't report it to you the correct way as rental income in the future, get another property manager that "has a clue".

[gataceri]

Great advice. That's what my hold up was - am I safe entering the income in a block other than where it was reported? I didn't have the confidence since the Turbo interview asks me to enter exactly what is reported WHERE it is reported. Thank you Carl!

[Critter]

Carl & I gave the same advice ...please take it.   Box 5 (fishing boat proceeds LOL)  was absurd to use for any reason... the property manager needs to have a good reason or be educated.

[Carl]

What you can do, is just tell the program that none of the income was reported on a 1099-MISC, and then enter the total rental income received. Besides, that's all that gets reported to the IRS anyway; just the total. The 1099-MISC you enter is not sent to the IRS. Do it my way and check it out.
On the SCH E you will not find anything that indicates how the income was reported to you. All you see is the total rental income received for each property you own on line 3 and that's it. Did it come from a 1099-MISC? Cash? Something else? No way to tell and the IRS could really care less, provided you actually reported the income of course.