Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
Buying & Selling Real Estate
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

User Stats

860
Posts
320
Votes
Mayer M.
  • Investor
  • Cherry Hill, NJ
320
Votes |
860
Posts

Real Estate Professional Status/Time Tracking

Mayer M.
  • Investor
  • Cherry Hill, NJ
Posted

Any recommendations on the most efficient way to track your time when classified as a real estate professional? My accountant wants me to start doing this in the event of an audit being I’m starting larger projects and will be implementing cost segregation

Thanks

User Stats

1,092
Posts
750
Votes
Mark H. Porter
  • Investor
  • SC NC, VA
750
Votes |
1,092
Posts
Mark H. Porter
  • Investor
  • SC NC, VA
Replied

I just use a spreadsheet and log hours by week

User Stats

22
Posts
64
Votes
Caleb Genry
  • Accountant
  • Nashville, TN
64
Votes |
22
Posts
Caleb Genry
  • Accountant
  • Nashville, TN
Replied

@Mayer M. I have a spreadsheet I created for clients. Would you like a copy of it? I can share it with you if you want.

BiggerPockets logo
PassivePockets is here!
|
BiggerPockets
Find sponsors, evaluate deals, and learn how to invest with confidence.

User Stats

860
Posts
320
Votes
Mayer M.
  • Investor
  • Cherry Hill, NJ
320
Votes |
860
Posts
Mayer M.
  • Investor
  • Cherry Hill, NJ
Replied

@Caleb Genry

That’d be awesome! Thanks.

User Stats

28
Posts
20
Votes
Bill S.
  • Specialist
  • Raleigh, NC
20
Votes |
28
Posts
Bill S.
  • Specialist
  • Raleigh, NC
Replied

@Mayer M. FYI, a Cost Segregation Study will "not" increase your chances of an IRS audit. It is standard practice and component level depreciation is encouraged by the IRS.

Though it is very important to track you time as you go along. An audit could be triggered by a number of factors that don't line up when run through the IRS's system, and create an exception. Things in your tax filing need to be really off to do this.

Being a REP/active participant and using cost seg to offset a spouses (or your own if that's all you do) W-2 wages is fairly common practice. Though, it is always better to be "safe than sorry". If you are audit for some reason, if you then slap together a spreadsheet to record time, the auditors will know right away. Track weekly like a time sheet.

User Stats

696
Posts
293
Votes
Calvin Ozanick
Agent
Property Manager
Pro Member
  • Property Manager
  • Janesville, WI
293
Votes |
696
Posts
Calvin Ozanick
Agent
Property Manager
Pro Member
  • Property Manager
  • Janesville, WI
Replied

Would either of you be willing to explain cost segregation and benefits of using it as an agent?

User Stats

7,937
Posts
3,448
Votes
Basit Siddiqi
Tax & Financial Services
Pro Member
#3 Classifieds Contributor
  • Accountant
  • New York, NY
3,448
Votes |
7,937
Posts
Basit Siddiqi
Tax & Financial Services
Pro Member
#3 Classifieds Contributor
  • Accountant
  • New York, NY
Replied

@Mayer M.

Excel will be the best way to track your hours.

You should have something where it is set up in the following way

Column 1 = Date
Column 2 = Activity Done
Column 3 = property #
Column 4 = amount of hours spent

Good luck!

User Stats

45
Posts
24
Votes
Stephen Mahler
Pro Member
24
Votes |
45
Posts
Stephen Mahler
Pro Member
Replied

@Caleb Genry can you send the ñog to me as well?

  • Stephen Mahler
  • User Stats

    88
    Posts
    29
    Votes
    Katie Jewell
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • West Lafayette IN
    29
    Votes |
    88
    Posts
    Katie Jewell
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • West Lafayette IN
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry I'm looking for a easy to use spreadsheet as well. Would you be willing to share with me?

  • Katie Jewell
  • User Stats

    1,092
    Posts
    750
    Votes
    Mark H. Porter
    • Investor
    • SC NC, VA
    750
    Votes |
    1,092
    Posts
    Mark H. Porter
    • Investor
    • SC NC, VA
    Replied

    I use a spreadsheet to the same way.  It’s just four simple columns. Make sure it’s updated though as the IRS will ask for it to be produced quickly.

    User Stats

    15
    Posts
    6
    Votes
    Clive Smith
    • Greensboro NC
    6
    Votes |
    15
    Posts
    Clive Smith
    • Greensboro NC
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Caleb Genry:

    @Mayer M. I have a spreadsheet I created for clients. Would you like a copy of it? I can share it with you if you want.

     Would appreciate if you can send the spreadsheet to me. thank you

    User Stats

    1
    Posts
    1
    Votes
    Melissa Quinn
    Pro Member
    • Coeur D Alene, ID
    1
    Votes |
    1
    Posts
    Melissa Quinn
    Pro Member
    • Coeur D Alene, ID
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry I would love a copy please - if you’re willing to share. Thanks!

  • Melissa Quinn
  • User Stats

    2
    Posts
    0
    Votes
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry I would love a copy please - I am not sure how detailed it needs to be Thanks!

    BiggerPockets logo
    BiggerPockets
    |
    Sponsored
    Find an investor-friendly agent in your market TODAY Get matched with our network of trusted, local, investor friendly agents in under 2 minutes

    User Stats

    10
    Posts
    29
    Votes
    Replied

    I created an electronic google doc time tracker:

    Time Log

    Contemporaneous time log of rental real estate activities

    Activity Description

    Tenant recruitment

    Tenant screening

    Negotiating and executing leases

    Overseeing repairs and maintenance

    Communications with tenants and vendors

    Travel time

    Research for potential rental real estate (pub 925)

    Acquiring rental real estate (pub 925)

    Paperwork/bookkeeping/banking

    Research and purchase of materials

    Rent collection

    Eviction

    On-site cleaning

    Bill payment

    Other:

    Time Spent

    Date

    MM

    /

    DD

    /

    YYYY

    Submit

    User Stats

    8
    Posts
    8
    Votes
    Aida Alemu
    Pro Member
    8
    Votes |
    8
    Posts
    Aida Alemu
    Pro Member
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry I would love a copy also if you don't mind sharing. Thanks in advance

  • Aida Alemu
  • User Stats

    35
    Posts
    11
    Votes
    Sanjay Sharma
    • Fullerton, CA
    11
    Votes |
    35
    Posts
    Sanjay Sharma
    • Fullerton, CA
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry, please send me a copy of the spreadsheet.  All the best,

    User Stats

    17
    Posts
    3
    Votes
    Alvin L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Long Island, NY
    3
    Votes |
    17
    Posts
    Alvin L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Long Island, NY
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry Please send me a copy as well if possible. Much appreciated!

    User Stats

    17
    Posts
    3
    Votes
    Alvin L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Long Island, NY
    3
    Votes |
    17
    Posts
    Alvin L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Long Island, NY
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Basit Siddiqi:

    @Mayer M.

    Excel will be the best way to track your hours.

    You should have something where it is set up in the following way

    Column 1 = Date
    Column 2 = Activity Done
    Column 3 = property #
    Column 4 = amount of hours spent

    Good luck!

     Are these the only items we need to document? they don't need the exact times (from XX:XX to XX:XX)? 

    User Stats

    17
    Posts
    3
    Votes
    Alvin L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Long Island, NY
    3
    Votes |
    17
    Posts
    Alvin L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Long Island, NY
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Mayer M.:

    Any recommendations on the most efficient way to track your time when classified as a real estate professional? My accountant wants me to start doing this in the event of an audit being I’m starting larger projects and will be implementing cost segregation

    Thanks

     Mayer, just sent you a message about the spreadsheet

    User Stats

    1
    Posts
    0
    Votes
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry I would love a copy also if you don't mind sharing. Happy New Year!

    User Stats

    17
    Posts
    7
    Votes
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry yet another request for your time tracking sheet if you don't mind.  Thank you very much!

    User Stats

    860
    Posts
    320
    Votes
    Mayer M.
    • Investor
    • Cherry Hill, NJ
    320
    Votes |
    860
    Posts
    Mayer M.
    • Investor
    • Cherry Hill, NJ
    Replied

    @Adrienne Patel

    There’s a newish app available for this. I’ve been using it religiously and love it. REPSTracker on the App Store

    User Stats

    6
    Posts
    1
    Votes
    Lu Gile
    1
    Votes |
    6
    Posts
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry hi could you kindly share your spreadsheet with me. Thank you in advance. :)

    User Stats

    15
    Posts
    9
    Votes
    Dyllon G.
    Pro Member
    9
    Votes |
    15
    Posts
    Dyllon G.
    Pro Member
    Replied
    Originally posted by @Caleb Genry:

    @Mayer M. I have a spreadsheet I created for clients. Would you like a copy of it? I can share it with you if you want.

     Also requesting a copy if possible. Thanks @CalebGenry!

  • Dyllon G.
  • User Stats

    1
    Posts
    0
    Votes
    Replied
    Quote from @Caleb Genry:

    @Mayer M. I have a spreadsheet I created for clients. Would you like a copy of it? I can share it with you if you want.


     can you share it to me too.TY

    User Stats

    50
    Posts
    8
    Votes
    Khandbari Rai
    • Investor
    • California, CA
    8
    Votes |
    50
    Posts
    Khandbari Rai
    • Investor
    • California, CA
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry   would you mind sharing with me too ?