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User Stats

860
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320
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Mayer M.
  • Investor
  • Cherry Hill, NJ
320
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860
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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

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

I just use a spreadsheet and log hours by week

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Caleb Genry
  • Accountant
  • Nashville, TN
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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.

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User Stats

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

@Caleb Genry

That’d be awesome! Thanks.

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Bill S.
  • Specialist
  • Raleigh, NC
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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.

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Calvin Ozanick
Agent
Property Manager
Pro Member
  • Property Manager
  • Janesville, WI
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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?

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Basit Siddiqi
Tax & Financial Services
Pro Member
#3 Classifieds Contributor
  • Accountant
  • New York, NY
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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!

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Stephen Mahler
Pro Member
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Stephen Mahler
Pro Member
Replied

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

  • Stephen Mahler
  • User Stats

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    Katie Jewell
    Pro Member
    • Rental Property Investor
    • West Lafayette IN
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    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

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    Mark H. Porter
    • Investor
    • SC NC, VA
    750
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    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

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    Clive Smith
    • Greensboro NC
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    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

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    Melissa Quinn
    Pro Member
    • Coeur D Alene, ID
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    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

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    Replied

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

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    User Stats

    10
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    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

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    Aida Alemu
    Pro Member
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    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

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    Sanjay Sharma
    • Fullerton, CA
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    Sanjay Sharma
    • Fullerton, CA
    Replied

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

    User Stats

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

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

    User Stats

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    Alvin L.
    • Rental Property Investor
    • Long Island, NY
    3
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    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

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

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    Replied

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

    User Stats

    17
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    7
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    Replied

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

    User Stats

    860
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    Mayer M.
    • Investor
    • Cherry Hill, NJ
    320
    Votes |
    860
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    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
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    1
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    Lu Gile
    1
    Votes |
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    Replied

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

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    Dyllon G.
    Pro Member
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    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

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    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

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    8
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    Khandbari Rai
    • Investor
    • California, CA
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    Khandbari Rai
    • Investor
    • California, CA
    Replied

    @Caleb Genry   would you mind sharing with me too ?