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New Member
posted Jun 3, 2019 12:02:55 PM

What is the difference between a roommate situation and and shared living expenses?

Share home with two friends.  They pay utilities and set monthly amount.  I pay taxes, maintenance, all other expenses.  Are we roommates or sharing household expenses.  What is the difference?

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1 Replies
New Member
Jun 3, 2019 12:02:56 PM

Here is some information that might be helpful for you.

https://ttlc.intuit.com/replies/4838699

If you want to consider the amount received as rent, then it would be a not-for-profit rental which is covered in IRS Publication 523 on page 16 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p527.pdf#page=16

"If you do not rent your property to make a profit, you can deduct your rental expenses only up to the amount of your rental income. You cannot deduct a loss or carry forward to the next year any rental expenses that are more than your rental income for the year."

Otherwise any amounts received from your room-mate is shared expenses and not reported on your federal tax return.
You can still deduct the mortgage interest and property taxes as itemized deductions on Schedule A of the tax return as the owner of the property.