All Forum Posts by: Mark R.

Bill, yes I have been spreading out my rental business on trips to take more "work days", but am still learning. A good understanding of the tax code, and documentation seems to be the key.

Your help is appreciated, thank you.

Bill, yes I agree with you that PUB463 doesn't back up Stephen Fishman's interpretation. It is in chapter 11, page 284 & 285 7th edition 2011 of his book.

This should not be an issue though since my leisure days have been few compared to rental work days.

My only other confusion is about mileage after I have arrived at my motel. Personal mileage is clearly not deductable and business mileage is.

What about mileage from my motel to the rental property and back to the motel? Is this deductable?

Bill, that is what I would have thought also. According to Stephen Fishman's book "Every Landlord's Tax Deduction Guide", the travel days count, and he describes a clear example similar to my six day scenario.

Thanks Dave, the way I understand it is that the travel days count if it is over 300 miles or more than 4 hours each way.

The two travel days plus two rental days equals four and the entire trip is six days (two leisure days).

Ref. "Every Landlords Tax Deduction Guide" by Stephen Fishman

Bill, thanks for your reply. For my six day scenario to make sense it would be two leisure days. Two travel days, two rental days (one each house) and two leisure days.

Over half the trip would be four days, meaning I count two travel days and two rental days (even though they are two different properties).

I think your interpretation is that this trip is deductable, and I split expenses evenly, except when working on a specific property.

I have two rental houses that are 400 miles from home.

I understand that to deduct overnight travel expenses, I must spend over half the trip working on a rental. What if I spend six days total, two travel days, working on one rental one day and the other rental one day, and one day of leisure? Can I deduct travel expenses?

When I drive there and work on both rentals, how do I split the travel expenses for each rental on schedule E? Divide mileage and expenses by two?

Thanks for your help.