Table of contents

10 topics, start to finish

Read them in order for a full picture, or jump to whichever question you have right now.

1. 01What Cost Basis IsThe number every other real estate tax rule is built on.6 min
2. 02Splitting Land From BuildingOnly one half of what you bought can be depreciated.5 min
3. 03How Depreciation WorksWriting off a building a slice at a time.6 min
4. 04Repairs, Improvements, and Adjusted BasisDeduct it now or add it to the building — the rules decide, not you.6 min
5. 05Amortization: The Other Slow Write-OffNot everything spread over years is depreciation.5 min
6. 06Speeding It Up: Components, Bonus, and Section 179Some of a building is not really a building.6 min
7. 07Recapture: Settling Up at SaleThe deductions come back to the table when you sell.6 min
8. 08Basis You Did Not Pay ForInheritance, gifts, and turning a home into a rental.6 min
9. 09The Truth About Deducting Lease PaymentsYes, you can deduct the lease — but only the business part.5 min
10. 10Can a Plane Be a Tax Deduction?Sometimes — and it is one of the most audited answers in the code.6 min