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Business-wise: How Will the IRS Treat Your Corporate Housing?

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Published Date: 2017-11-13

There are different reasons people invest in real estate rentals. It may be your primary residence, vacation home, or a pure rental property. You may be renting your primary residence or a portion of it, or a vacation home that you use with different frequencies. Whatever the case, Ben Franklin said, “The only two things certain in life are death and taxes.” So, if you’re renting within the Unites States and you pay U.S. federal taxes, you should be ready and prepare for them. April 15^th will be here before you know it, so with that in mind let’s look at how the IRS views your corporate rental.

How You Use Your Corporate Rental Matters

The CHBO Handbook has this to say about taxes on your furnished loft: “The general rule for renting your personal residence is that for a home rented for less than 15 days in a calendar year (assuming a calendar year taxpayer which includes practically all individuals), the owner cannot deduct any of the related rental expenses, but isn't taxed on any of the rental income (Code Section 280A(g)). This applies to the United States of America. Let’s look a bit more closely and pull in some additional situations. The key factors are 1) How often you or an immediate family member uses your corporate housing, and 2) How many days it is rented.

In A Calendar Year, How Often Do You Use It?	In a Calendar Year, How Often Do You Rent It?	IRS Considers It A…	Must You Report Rental Income?	Can You Deduct Business Expenses?
More than 14 days OR more than 10% of Days Rented	Less than 15 days	Personal Residence	No	No
More than 14 days	More than 14 days	Personal Residence	Yes	Yes
14 Days or Less OR less than 10% of Days Rented	More than 14 days	Corporate Rental Property	Yes	Yes

From this information, we can make some generalizations. If you rent your property for more than 14 days, you do have to report your income, and you can deduct the expenses. If you don’t, you don’t have to report your income nor can you deduct expenses.

How Losses are Treated

Another consideration is Passive Activity Losses, or PALs. These are operating losses over and above your rental income for the tax year. Generally, you can deduct up operating expenses up to the amount of income you make. After that, there are limitations and you may be unable to offset your losses. Understanding the rules around how your furnished loft is taxed will help you prepare for meet your tax obligations and even help you determine how much you can put back into the property. It should be said that US code is complicated. These are basic guidelines for how the IRS will treat your furnished rental, but it is recommended that you consult with a tax professional. For more great tips on how to maximize your corporate rental investment, download the free CHBO Handbook or call CHBO today at 877-333-2426!