What is Rental Property Depreciation and why it is Vital to You

Rental property depreciation is a highly important concept for those who own or manage rental properties. Understanding how to calculate it is crucial for maximising your tax deductions and slashing your overall real estate taxes.

So what exactly is rental property depreciation? In simple terms, it's the decrease in value of property over time as the building structure begins to wear and tear with age.

Depreciation can only be used for tax purposes on rental properties; you cannot claim depreciation for the home that you live in. It's also important to note that rental property depreciation only applies to the building itself, and not the land upon which it is situated.

How to Calculate Depreciation for Non-Residential Rental Properties

There are a few different methods for making this calculation, however the most common and straightforward method is the so-called "straight line" depreciation method. Using this formula, annual depreciation is calculated by taking the purchase price of the building minus land value, and dividing it by its useful life span.

When it comes to the useful life span of the structure, you'll need to refer to tax rules and local regulations. Laws vary, but generally you can find a fixed number based on the type and age of the structure, or a formula to calculate the building's life span.

As an example, say you purchase a property for $150,000 with a land value of $50,000, and the property has a useful life span of thirty years, according to local laws. Annual depreciation is as follows:

150,000 – 50,000/30 = 3,333.33

Of course, it's important to note that the land value may change according to market conditions. Therefore, you will need to calculate rental property depreciation independently each tax cycle.

The above formula applies to non-residential rental properties, like hotels, motels, and business rentals.

How to Calculate Depreciation for Your Residential Rental Properties

If you own residential rental buildings or rent out your home, then you need to calculate rental property depreciation using the same formula, but the useful life span of the building is assumed to be 27.5 years. This calculation should be used for any home or residential rental building earning 80% or more of its revenue from rental income.

For the first year that you own a rental property, depreciation should be calculated using a pro-rated formula, depending on the month in which you purchased your property. Pro-rated depreciation is calculated as follows:

Annual Depreciation = Purchase Price – Land Value X Depreciation Percentage

Use the following table to calculate residential depreciation:

- January 3.485%
- February 3.182%
- March 2.879%
- April 2.576%
- May 2.273%
- June 1.970%
- July 1.667%
- August 1.364%
- September 1.061%
- October 0.758%
- November 0.455%
- December 0.152%

For example, for a residential property purchased in November for $150,000 with a land value of $50,000, depreciation for the first year is as follows:

(150,000 – 50,000) X 0.00455 = 455

How Rental Property Depreciation Affects Your Real Estate Taxes

In the short term, depreciation can be counted on your annual tax return as a rental expense, resulting in a deduction from taxes owed. If you did not know that this option was available and thus did not claim this deduction in years past, you should know that you can claim up to 3 years prior depreciation on one return.

When you sell your rental property, you should also be aware that having claimed rental property depreciation on your tax return will result in higher capital gains taxes. In addition to being taxed on any profit from the sale of your property, you'll also have to pay 1/4 of the amount that you have claimed in deductions for depreciation of the property.

Overall, you still benefit monetarily from claiming the deduction, however you may want to set aside some of the offset for the future in case you should decide to sell your rental property.

Teo Zhenjie has been showing landlords how to manage their tenants and rental property effectively on Propertydo Landlord Guides. Visit his website for step-by-step real estate guides, free resources and forms.