Can You Depreciate a Vacation Home?

By Alice Nichols

Are you a proud owner of a vacation home? If yes, then you might be wondering whether you can depreciate it or not.

Depreciation is a tax deduction that allows you to recover the cost of your property over time. In this article, we’ll explore whether or not vacation homes can be depreciated.

What is Depreciation?

Depreciation is a tax deduction that allows you to recover the cost of your property over time. It’s the gradual decrease in the value of an asset due to wear and tear, age, and obsolescence. Depreciation is calculated based on the useful life of an asset and it’s spread out over several years.

Can You Depreciate a Vacation Home?

The answer is both yes and no. You can only depreciate your vacation home if it’s considered a rental property. This means that you must rent out your vacation home for at least 15 days per year and use it for personal use for no more than 14 days or 10% of the total rental days in a year, whichever is greater.

If you meet these requirements, then you can depreciate your vacation home using the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS). MACRS allows you to recover the cost of your property over 27.5 years for residential rental properties.

However, if your vacation home doesn’t meet these requirements and it’s used solely for personal purposes, then you can’t depreciate it.

Exceptions to the Rule

There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you rent out your vacation home for more than 14 days per year but also use it for personal purposes for more than 14 days or 10% of the total rental days in a year, whichever is greater, then your vacation home will be considered a personal residence.

If your vacation home is considered a personal residence, then you won’t be able to deduct rental expenses. However, you can deduct mortgage interest and property taxes as itemized deductions on your tax return.

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can only depreciate your vacation home if it’s considered a rental property. If your vacation home doesn’t meet these requirements and it’s used solely for personal purposes, then you can’t depreciate it.

Remember to consult with a tax professional to determine whether or not you can depreciate your vacation home. With proper planning and knowledge of tax laws, you can maximize the tax benefits of owning a vacation home.