topic Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income? in Investors & landlords

Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

Ahnold — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 06:53:34 GMT

In 2018, I did a 1031 exchange for a rental property. The prior property sold in the exchange was previously reported on Schedule E and had significant carryover of passive losses. I'm using the new property acquired in the exchange for short term rentals (typically less than 7 days), so it is reported on Schedule C. I use a management company to run all aspects of the rental business for this property and I don't materially participate, so it is passive income even though it is reported on Schedule C. Can I use the Schedule E passive loss carryover from the prior property to offset the passive income from this Schedule C rental? What is the rule that allows or prevents it?

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

Mike9241 — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 07:39:27 GMT

short-term rentals ate not passive if you provide significant services and thus they are reported on schedule C. if no significant services are provided then the rentals are passive and go on schedule E. if it produces net income then your prior suspended rental passive losses can be used to offset the income. Note that if you have net income properly reported on schedule C you'll owe self-employment taxes. Properly reporting on Schulele C means the activity is not passive so you can't use the suspended passive losses to offset the

According to the IRS, not all rental property activity should be reported on Schedule E. If the property owner provides “substantial services” to short-term renters, the IRS says that the rental activity should be reported on Schedule C, and that the property owner must pay self-employment taxes on the income. If there is a loss, it can be fully deducted without regard for the passive loss limitation rules. If you provide substantial services that are primarily for your tenant's convenience, such as regular cleaning, changing linen, or maid service, you
report your rental income and expenses on Schedule C. Substantial services don’t include the furnishing of heat and light, cleaning of public areas, trash collection, etc. Also, you may have to pay self-employment tax on your rental income using Schedule SE. For a discussion of “substantial services,” see Real Estate Rents in chapter 5 of Pub. 334.

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

Ahnold — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:36:46 GMT

@Mike9241 No significant services are provided, but my understanding was when rentals are typically shorter than 7 days, the activity needed to be reported on Schedule C, but could still be passive income based on whether I materially participated. Otherwise not sure why our CPA put it on Sch C back in 2018. Schedule C can still have passive income, correct?

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

Anonymous_ — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 15:05:42 GMT

@Ahnold

There has been (and still is) considerable disagreement (and confusion) with respect to the "7-days or less" rule. It has been interpreted (more likely misinterpreted) for a number of years.

Regardless, the rule appears to have been deleted from the most current Regulations and a memo was issued which indicates the rule is strictly for the purposes of Section 469.

See https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/202151005.pdf

Also, note that your interest in a business can be passive, but income reported on Schedule C is generally considered to be nonpassive by default (and subject to SE tax).

I will page @AmeliesUncle to see if he has anything to add.

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

AmeliesUncle — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 23:52:56 GMT

@Ahnold wrote:
In 2018,

As Mike and Tagteam said, it belongs on Schedule E.

Are you preparing the 2019 return? If not, what have you been doing with the passive losses and income for the last few years?

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

Rick19744 — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:01:40 GMT

A few additional comments:

As mentioned by @Anonymous_, this area is not a model of clarity in how this is presented.
I would not report this on Schedule C unless, as noted by @Mike9241, you provided substantial services as noted in the facts of the CCA provided by @Anonymous_.
The 7-day exception just determines whether the activity is a rental activity, not whether it goes on Schedule C or E.
As we can't see how the prior return was completed, we don't know if any losses were carried to form 8582; they should.
Also, since you indicate you fall within the 7-day exception, you will not qualify for the potential $25,000 exception to the passive activity loss rules.
Bottom line, I believe the activity should be reported on Schedule E.

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

Mike9241 — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:24:42 GMT

@Rick19744 @Anonymous_ after reading the temporary reg and the situations it presets it seem the IRS says 7 day rentals are never passive. since the taxpayer says they don't provide significant services it doesn't go on schedule C but schedule E. to avoid being treated as passive there is a box to check in turbo tax for schedule E which says "other passive exception". checking it will treat any income/loss as non passive.

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

Anonymous_ — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 00:43:22 GMT

@Mike9241 wrote:

@Rick19744 @Anonymous_ after reading the temporary reg.....

The Reg is no longer temporary (note (e)(3)(i)–(e)(3)(ii) has been reserved).

See https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/26/1.469-1

Re: Can Schedule E losses be used to offset Schedule C passive income?

AmeliesUncle — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:37:50 GMT

@Mike9241 wrote:
after reading the temporary reg and the situations it presets it seem the IRS says 7 day rentals are never passive.

The seven day thing means it is not treated as a "rental activity" (which is automatically passive) for purposes of the passive rules. That means the passive versus non-passive determination is based on if there is Material Participation or not.

I think you are right, the only way to tell the program that this situation is non-passive is to check that box.