Top 6 Tax Benefits Of Real Estate Investing (2024)

Diversifying your investments can be a smart financial move. Some strategies, such as buying rental properties, can produce a valuable, recurring cash flow from a mostly passive income. But did you know that investing in real estate can also make your financial profile rosier come tax time?

If you’re interested in buying rental properties, there are many tax benefits of real estate investing you may want to consider. Let’s take a look at some of the most common tax advantages that can help you maximize savings on your annual return.

1. Use Real Estate Tax Write-Offs

One of the biggest financial perks of investing in real estate is the tax deductions you’re able to take. You get to deduct expenses directly tied to the operation, management and maintenance of the property, such as:

• Property taxes
• Property insurance
• Mortgage interest
• Property management fees
• Cost to maintain and repair the building

But did you know that you can also write off some of what you pay to run your real estate investment business? Qualified business expenses may include, but aren’t limited to:

• Advertising
• Office space
• Business equipment (for example, computer, stationery, business cards, etc.)
• Legal and accounting fees
• Travel

All of these deductions lessen your taxable income, which could save you money when you pay taxes. Let’s say your rental income is $25,000, and your related, qualified expenses come to $8,000. That means the taxable income from your real estate business is $17,000.

Be sure to keep detailed, accurate records and receipts so you can prove the expenses you claimed in case you’re audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

2. Depreciate Costs Over Time

Depreciation is the incremental loss of an asset’s value, generally due to assumed wear and tear. As a real estate investor that holds income-producing rental property, you can deduct rental property depreciation as an expense on your taxes. That means you’ll lower your taxable income and possibly reduce your tax liability.

You’re allowed to take the depreciation deduction for the entire expected life of a property. This is currently set by the IRS as 27.5 years for residential properties and 39 years for commercial properties.

For instance, maybe you purchase a home you intend to rent out. The value of the building itself (excluding the land it sits on) is $300,000. If you divide that value by the 27.5 year expected life of the dwelling, you can deduct $10,909 in depreciation each year.

Depreciation Recapture

Once you sell the property, though, be prepared to pay the standard income tax rate on the depreciation you’ve claimed if the home sells for higher than the amount you depreciated. This requirement is known as depreciation recapture. Depreciation recapture is a tax provision that requires you to pay taxes on the depreciation deductions you’ve previously claimed, typically at a higher rate than the capital gains tax rate.

You can often avoid depreciation recapture if you pursue other tax strategies, like a 1031 exchange (more on that below).

3. Use A Pass-Through Deduction

A pass-through deduction allows you to deduct up to 20% of your qualified business income (QBI) on your personal taxes. When you own rental property as a sole proprietor, via a real estate partnership, or through an LLC or S Corp (known as pass-through entities), the money you collect in rent is considered QBI by real estate tax law.

For example, if you have an LLC that owns an apartment complex, you could receive $30,000 in rental income every year. By using a pass-through deduction, you can write off up to $6,000 on your personal return. Of course, some rules and regulations must be followed, so please consult with your accountant.

Please note that this perk, along with other provisions in the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017, is currently set to expire December 31, 2025.

4. Take Advantage Of Capital Gains

A capital gains tax may be assessed when you sell an asset, like a piece of property, for a profit. There are two types to be aware of: short-term and long-term. They each impact your tax situation differently.

Short-Term Capital Gains

When you profit from selling an asset within a year of owning it, you realize a short-term capital gain. While you may not have a choice but to sell, be aware that doing so can have a negative effect on your taxes. That’s because the gain gets counted as ordinary income.

So, if you earn $100,000 from your day job and sell an investment property for a $100,000 profit, your income essentially doubles for tax purposes. If you file single, that extra income puts you in the next tax bracket, which potentially means a larger tax bill than you expected.

Long-Term Capital Gains

On the other hand, you see a long-term capital gain if you profit from the sale of an asset that you’ve held for a year or longer. If you can wait until the anniversary of your purchase to sell, you’ll get to keep more money in your pocket. That’s because long-term capital gains have a significantly lower tax rate than your standard income.

And, if your income is low enough, you may not have to pay the tax at all. Suppose you and your spouse make a combined $75,000 per year and file a joint tax return. The long-term capital gains are tax-free since the tax rate for your income level is 0%. That means you can keep every cent of the profit you get when selling a property.

5. Defer Taxes With Incentive Programs

Sometimes, the government develops a special tax code to incentivize investors. Let’s review the 1031 exchange and opportunity zones, two major real estate tax benefits.

1031 Exchange

1031 exchanges exist because the government wants to reward people who reinvest their real estate profits into new deals. As long as the new property you buy is of equal or greater value than the one you sell, the program lets you swap them for tax purposes. That means you can defer paying the capital gains tax on the sale of the first property.

You can use 1031 exchanges indefinitely. But, when you want to cash out your profits, you’ll have to pay any tax owed. There are a few different forms of the program available based on the timing of your purchase and sale transactions. Since the program can be complicated to navigate and take full advantage of, it’s wise to consult with a qualified financial professional.

Opportunity Zones

Designated by the U.S. Department of Treasury, opportunity zones are low-income or disadvantaged tracts of land. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act encourages investors to put their money into developing and economically stimulating these communities by offering tax breaks.

Alongside other real estate investors, you place your unrealized capital gains into a Qualified Opportunity Fund. Money from that fund goes toward improving the selected area.

If you play by the rules of the program, you can enjoy the following tax advantages:

• Defer paying capital gains until 2026 (or until you sell your stake in the fund).
• Grow your capital gains by 10% if you hold the fund for 5 years; 15% for 7 years.
• Avoid paying capital gains entirely if you remain invested in the fund for 10+ years.

6. Be Self-Employed Without The FICA Tax

When you’re self-employed, you generally need to pay both the employer and employee portion of the FICA tax (covering Social Security and Medicare). However, if you own rental property, the money you receive isn’t classified as earned income. That means you’re eligible for one of the least talked about real estate tax breaks: avoiding the FICA tax, also known as the payroll tax.

FICA Tax Break Example

Let’s pretend you own a freelance writing business that generates $50,000 in revenue. Since that money is considered earned income, you’re on the hook for the payroll tax. At a 15.3% tax rate, you’d have to fork over $7,650. But, if you’re a rental property owner instead, you would get to keep that cash in the bank (unless property rentals were your only source of income and classified as a business).

The Bottom Line: Make Your Real Estate Tax Breaks Count

Real estate investing isn’t just about property ownership – it’s a strategic financial move that can significantly affect your tax liabilities. The real estate tax benefits, from deductions for mortgage interest and property taxes to depreciation and 1031 exchanges, can make a substantial difference when tax season comes around.

Are you ready to take the next step in your journey of real estate investing? Start your mortgage application online and diversify your investment portfolio today.