Reminder: Taxes Are Due July 15! Here’s How to Prepare as a Real Estate Investor

Coronavirus has been hitting just about everyone hard since March and the good news is that the IRS extended the deadline to file taxes until July 15th but that deadline is now a few weeks away.

If you’re a real estate investor, this article will provide you with tips on how to get ready for filing your taxes to meet the July 15th deadline.

How to Make the Most of Tax Benefits & Deductions Available to Real Estate Investors

Steps to Take at the Beginning of the Year

1. Verify vendor and contractor information

Touch base with each vendor or contractor you’ve worked with throughout the year, and make sure you have the correct federal tax ID number and mailing address. If you are a property manager, this includes reaching out to each of your property owners.

2. Issue and file 1099-MISC forms

Typically, 1099-MISC forms must be sent to recipients by January 31 and to the IRS by January 31 if there is a nonemployee compensation amount in box 7. If there is no information in box 7 (this is rare), the deadline is extended slightly.

As a property manager or landlord, you are required to issue 1099s to any service provider who received compensation higher than $600 for work related to your investment property. It might seem easy to not issue 1099s as you hire handy people or other laborers throughout the year, but penalties from the IRS can be quite steep and are not worth the risk.

Deducting expenses related to managing a rental property is one of the main benefits of investing in real estate. Make sure to keep excellent records and do some research (or hire a professional) to look into all of the deductions and credits you may be eligible for.

Just a few examples include:

• Property repairs and maintenance
• Property tax
• Insurance
• Travel costs
• Mortgage interest
• Depreciation
• Operating expenses

Business-related deductions often catch the eye of the IRS, so be sure you can provide proper receipts and can justify the business necessity of each claim in the chance that you are audited.

Retirement Account Funding

Most of the time, the deadline to fund retirement accounts for the previous year is April 15, but some specific accounts have a December 31 deadline in order to be deducted. It is crucial to plan ahead and know your tax deadline to ensure your accounts are in place by the correct deadline.

If your investment grows substantially over the course of a year, you may want to consider a Roth IRA to keep your profits tax-free. If your investment has modest growth or loses money over the course of a year, you may consider converting your Roth IRA to a traditional IRA without facing any taxes or penalties.

Understanding your options and what will work best for your portfolio can have some significant tax advantages.

Pre-Paying Taxes and Expenses

No one likes the idea of handing over money to the IRS sooner than necessary, but in some cases, it makes the most sense. For example, if your investment property is generating substantial profit, it might be worthwhile to pre-pay recurring bills that aren’t likely to change—think insurance, disposal, landscaping—to bring your income level down for the year.

On the other hand, if your investment is going to be negative, you may be able to write off your losses and expenses to show no income.

Another option to consider before tax season to reduce your taxable income is to purchase items or make other pending repairs. Replacing worn-out appliances, repainting, mending broken fences, and other similar activities can turn out to be a wise investment.

Thinking of Selling?

Selling an investment property is not a decision to be taken lightly, and the tax pros and cons should be carefully considered before pulling the trigger. Selling your property at a gain in a year during which you have many tax breaks (and therefore less taxable income) can be a strategic move. But every situation is unique and depends on your local market, so be sure to consult with a tax advisor or financial planner before you make the official decision to sell.

Protecting Your Data During Tax Season

Each and every day, data theft puts our personal and financial information at risk. Besides the holiday shopping season, tax season is one of the most popular periods of the year for cybersecurity issues.

Of course, we want to keep our personal information safe, but you are at an increased risk if you act as a property manager and are also responsible for the information of your clients and tenants. There are steps you can take to prevent theft and keep your data safe during tax season:

• Use strong, unique passwords for each of your online accounts
• Take advantage of two-factor authentication whenever possible on financial, email, and social media accounts
• Avoid conducting business or personal transactions on unsecured wifi in public locations
• Use caution when opening emails or answering phone calls—the IRS will not initiate contact with taxpayers by email or phone to request personal or financial information
• Check credit monitoring services for any activity you don’t recognize

Source – Bigger Pockets

Contact RPM Central Valley

At RPM Central Valley, we save investors the time, money and hassle of managing their rental properties themselves. To learn more about the property management services we can offer you contact us today at (209) 572-2222 or click here to connect with us online.