Rental Expenses Year Incurred/Paid

[Christopher-Baue]

I have several rental expenses that were incurred in 2016; however, the checks did not clear until Jan-2017.  The invoices/receipts associated with these expenses reflect 2016.  Should the expenses be claimed in 2016 or 2017?  For example, windows repairs were completed on my rental property on 12/26/2016; however, the vendor did not cash the check until 1/3/2017.

[RichardG]

You can deduct expenses in the year you mail the checks, even though they won't be cashed or deposited until early next year.