Depreciating a Rental Property

[Mike Hoefling]

As I am getting ready to do my taxes this year I started thinking about the depreciation for my rental property. I know the standard is to depreciate the rental property over 27.5 years but since I don't plan on owning my property that long as I might sell and buy another building would it make more sense to accelerate the depreciation over 10 or 15 years.

Whats the thought process on this?

Thanks,

[Logan Allec]

@Jeff B. mentioned above, will tell you the same thing.

Table 4-1 indicates that double declining balance method, referred to in the publication as "200% DB", is only an acceptable method for nonfarm 3-, 5-, 7-, and 10-year property.  This is underlined in red in the image below.

The straight line method, referred to in the publication as "SL", is the only acceptable method for residential rental property.  This is underlined in blue in the image below.  Hope this helps!