As part of AdvisorOne's Special Report, 20 Days of Tax Planning Advice for 2013, throughout the month of March, we are partnering with our Summit Business Media sister service, Tax Facts Online, to take a deeper dive into certain tax planning issues in a convenient Q&A format. In this 11th article, we look at the tax implications of real estate ownership.
Q. In general, what are the tax benefits of real estate investment? What limitations may restrict enjoyment of those benefits?
The rental and management of real property is generally considered a trade or business even if the owner owns only one property, is actively engaged in another profession or business and carries on all management activities through an agent, or, continuously, over a period of several years, experiences losses from the operation of the business. However, it has been held that where activities were minimal, rental of a single residence was not a trade or business.
Credits
Credits against tax liability may be taken for certain investments in low-income housing or rehabilitation of old or historic structures. Use of these credits may be subject to certain limitations. See heading "Limitations" below.
Depreciation
An owner of residential or nonresidential improved real property (either used in a trade or business or held for the production of income) may deduct each year amounts for depreciation of the buildings, but not the land itself, even though no cash expenditure is made. Furthermore, the depreciable amount is not limited to the owner's equity in the property.. However, the deductions may be subject to certain limitations. See heading "Limitations" below. Also, where accelerated depreciation is used, which would not be true for residential rental property or nonresidential real property placed in service after 1986, part or all of the amount deducted is subject to "recapture" on sale of the property. "Bonus depreciation" has been extended, as well as 100 percent bonus depreciation for some business assets placed in service before 2012, by the 2010 Tax Relief Act.
Interest
An investor in improved or unimproved real estate may generally deduct each year amounts paid for mortgage interest (subject to certain limitations, see heading "Limitations" below). However, prepaid interest must be deducted over the period to which the prepayment relates. A further limitation on deduction of interest is that construction period interest must be capitalized. The interest subject to capitalization may not be reduced by interest income earned from temporarily investing unexpended debt proceeds.
Taxes
The investor in real property is permitted to deduct amounts paid for real property taxes (subject to certain limitations, see heading "Limitations" below). In the year of acquisition the buyer may deduct the real estate taxes allocable to the number of days the buyer owns the property. "Taxes" that are actually assessments for improvements (e.g., sidewalks, sewers, etc.) and that enhance the value of the property cannot be currently deducted, but must be added to the investor's basis in the property (i.e., capitalized) and deducted through depreciation allowances over the recovery period. A further limitation on deduction of real estate taxes is that construction period taxes must be capitalized.
Expenses
An investor in real estate may deduct each year "all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business" and all ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year (1) for the production and collection of income; (2) for the management, conservation, or maintenance of property held for the production of income; or (3) in connection with the determination, collection, or refund of any tax. Routine repair and maintenance expenses are deductible in the year paid as business expenses or expenses incurred in connection with property held for the production of income, but the cost of improvements must be capitalized (added to the owner's basis in the property) and recovered through depreciation deductions. Amounts paid for repairs are deductible if the amounts paid are not otherwise required to be capitalized. Capital improvements increase the value, prolong the life, or alter the use for which the property is suitable.
