Final regs are out and 20% deduction on rental income is in!

The IRS Released the final Regs today. 

BEFORE TODAY: IF YOU PARTICIPATE REGULARLY IN YOUR RENTALS WITH THE INTENT OF MAKING A PROFIT YOU WILL LIKELY QUALIFY FOR THE 20% DEDUCTION.

AFTER TODAY: IF YOU SPEND 250 HOURS A YEAR ON YOUR RENTALS, DON’T MIX COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL, TRACK YOUR HOURS, AND KEEP SEPARATE BOOKS YOU QUALIFY BECAUSE OF THE NEW SAFE HARBOR.

OH…

BUT ALSO…

IF YOU DON’T SPEND 250 HOURS ON YOUR RENTALS- YOU STILL QUALIFY USING THAT FIRST WAY WE’VE HAD ALL ALONG.

SO BASICALLY- THE IRS JUST CREATED A VERY COMPLEX WAY TO QUALIFY FOR SOMETHING YOU LIKELY ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR.

DON’T WORRY - I CREATED A CHART TO HELP YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

WHAT ACTIVITIES QUALIFY FOR THE 250 HOURS NEEDED?

• Advertising to rent or lease the property
• Negotiation and executing leases
• Verifying information contained in prospective tenant applications
• Collection of rent
• Daily operation, maintenance, and repair of the property
• Management of the real estate
• Purchase of materials
• Supervision of employees and Independent contractors

WHAT ACTIVITIES DON’T QUALIFY FOR THE 250 HOURS NEEDED?

• Financial or investment management activities
  • Arranging financing
  • procuring property
  • Studying and reviewing financial statements or reports
  • Planning, managing, or constructing long-term capital improvements
  • Hours spent traveling to and from the real estate

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE SAFE HARBOR?

• Real estate used by the taxpayer as a resident for ANY part of the year under section 280A is not eligible for the safe harbor.
• NNN properties do not qualify
• To claim the safe harbor the Taxpayer must include a statement to the tax return on which it claims the 199A deduction. The statement is required to be signed by the taxpayer and must meet specific wording confirming the facts to the true and relevant.
• The activities that qualify for the hours for the 199A safe harbor are NOT the same as the activities that qualify for the hours required to qualify as a Real Estate professional.