Rental property ~ where to enter power reimbursement payments?

[CaddyGrn]

Hello,

I have two apartments and keep the power in my name so if I have a flaky renter and they don't pay the power bill the power won't be turned off and my pipes won't freeze.  Anyway, I bill the individual tenants their bill each month after I pay the full amount.  They reimburse me.  Do I include this in "rental payments" on the Schedule E worksheet?  Or somewhere else?  Thanks in advance for any assistance.

[DavidD66]

I would just include it with the rent.  An alternative would be to enter it as a contra (negative) utility expense, but the bottom line will be the same either way.

[CaddyGrn]

Thank you for your prompt response!  I have listed the power bills as an expense to me, so I will include the payments as a portion of the rent.  I had a renter "bail" and fail to reimburse me when they moved out suddenly... so maybe that will show that portion as a "loss"... or added expense.

[KurtL1]

You are on a cash basis and therefore, the loss of rent due a tenant leaving without paying cannot be deducted on your return.

The following are examples of business bad debts (if previously included in income):

• Loans to clients, suppliers, distributors, and employees,
• Credit sales to customers, or
• Business loan guarantees.

[jerry26]

Yes, the reimbursements should be listed as income, and the schedule E only has one line for rental payments (income).

You would also deduct the actual amount you paid to the power company as well, for example, utilities expense.

[CaddyGrn]

Thanks so much!  Yes, I did list the utilities in my utilities expense column.