


Ask the community...
Hey, stupid question maybe, but are we sure this cost doesn't qualify as a repair rather than an improvement? I thought if you're just replacing something with a similar unit (not upgrading significantly), it could count as a repair and be fully deductible in the year you paid for it? I replaced my rental's refrigerator last year and deducted the whole thing as a repair expense. Was that wrong?
That's actually not a stupid question at all! The IRS distinguishes between repairs and improvements, and it can be confusing. For tax purposes, a repair keeps your property in good working condition but doesn't materially add value or substantially prolong its life. An improvement, on the other hand, adds value, extends the useful life, or adapts the property to new uses. Replacing an entire AC condenser unit typically falls under "improvement" because you're replacing a major component that will substantially prolong the useful life of the HVAC system. As for your refrigerator, that's actually considered a separate appliance asset with its own depreciation schedule (typically 5 years), not a repair expense. So technically, that should have been depreciated as well.
Great question! I've been managing rental properties for about 8 years and dealt with similar situations. The AC condenser replacement is definitely a capital improvement that needs to be depreciated over 5 years, as others have mentioned. One thing I'd add is to make sure you're separating the condenser unit from any ductwork or other HVAC components if they were part of the same job. The condenser itself is 5-year property, but structural components like ductwork might have different depreciation periods. Also, since this happened in 2022 but you're filing for 2024, make sure you're placing the asset in service in the correct year (2022) when you set it up in TurboTax. The depreciation should have started in 2022, so you'll need to account for the depreciation you should have taken in 2022 and 2023 as well. For a $5,900 expense on a single rental property, I'd lean toward regular MACRS depreciation over Section 179 unless you have significant rental income. Section 179 can't create or increase a rental loss, so if your property breaks even or loses money, you won't get the full benefit anyway.
This is really helpful advice about separating the different components! I'm new to rental property ownership (just inherited my first one last year) and I'm realizing there's so much I don't know about the tax implications. Quick question - when you mention accounting for depreciation from 2022 and 2023, does that mean I need to file amended returns for those years? Or can I just catch up on the missed depreciation when I file my 2024 return? I'm worried I might have messed up my previous filings by not including this properly. Also, do you have any recommendations for keeping better track of these kinds of expenses going forward? I feel like I'm going to run into this same confusion with every major repair or replacement.
Don't forget about self-employment taxes! If your single-member LLC is a disregarded entity, you'll pay self-employment taxes on that income. If you're already taking guaranteed payments from the multi-member LLC, this arrangement essentially means you're paying SE tax on two streams of income.
This is a great question and one that comes up frequently with multi-entity business structures! Based on what you've described, this arrangement is definitely doable, but there are several key considerations to get right: **Documentation is crucial** - You'll want formal service agreements between the LLCs outlining the scope of work, payment terms, and rates. Simple invoicing might not be sufficient if you get audited. **Fair market value** - The rates your single-member LLC charges should be comparable to what an unrelated third party would charge for similar services. This protects against IRS challenges about inflated expenses. **Operating agreement compliance** - Make sure your Trio Consulting LLC's operating agreement doesn't restrict this type of arrangement, and get explicit approval from your partners. **Tax implications** - Your single-member LLC income will flow through to your personal return, and you'll owe self-employment taxes on it. Meanwhile, Trio Consulting can deduct these payments as legitimate business expenses. One thing to consider: since you're essentially wearing two hats (partner in Trio AND service provider through Solo Marketing), maintain clear boundaries about which work belongs to which entity to avoid conflicts with your partners. Have you discussed this arrangement with your partners yet? Their buy-in will be essential for making this work smoothly.
This is really comprehensive advice! I'm particularly interested in the "fair market value" point you mentioned. How do you typically determine what constitutes fair market value for marketing services between related entities? Is it enough to research what freelance marketers charge in your area, or does the IRS expect more formal documentation like getting quotes from unrelated third parties for comparison?
One thing nobody's mentioned - check if Colorado and Nevada have a reciprocal tax agreement! Some states have these agreements where you only pay tax to your home state even if you work in the other. Would simplify things if they do.
Colorado doesn't have reciprocal agreements with any states as far as I know. I work remotely for a CO company but live in Arizona, and still had to deal with this last year.
The property purchase itself won't automatically change your tax home status, but it's definitely something to be strategic about. I've been through a similar situation between Texas and California. Here's what I learned: owning property in Colorado creates another tie to that state, but it's not determinative by itself. The key is the "facts and circumstances" test - where are your strongest connections? Since you already have 75% work time in Colorado, that's already a significant factor. My advice: before buying, document everything that ties you to Nevada. Get a letter from your Nevada bank confirming your account history, keep records of family visits, maintain your Nevada voter registration and driver's license. Consider joining a Nevada-based organization or club if you haven't already. Also, when you do buy in Colorado, be clear about your intent. Don't change your mailing address to the Colorado property, don't register to vote there, and keep referring to it as your "work residence" rather than your "home" in any documentation. One more tip: consult with a tax professional who specializes in multi-state issues before making the purchase. The upfront cost of good advice is way cheaper than dealing with residency disputes later.
This is really comprehensive advice! I'm curious about something though - when you mention keeping it as a "work residence" in documentation, does that include things like insurance policies? Should someone avoid getting homeowner's insurance that lists it as a primary residence, or does that not matter as much for tax purposes? Also, what about utilities and other services - do you need to be careful about how those accounts are set up to avoid creating additional ties to Colorado? I'm just thinking about all the little details that might add up to create a residency argument.
Amended returns are processed completely differently than regular returns. While a standard return might take 21 days, amendments go through a specialized department that handles them in order received. Unlike regular e-filed returns that are largely automated, amendments require manual review - similar to how paper returns are processed vs. electronic ones. If you're counting on this money for your Q2 estimated taxes, you might want to make other arrangements. Most contractors I know who've amended returns had to wait 12+ weeks before seeing any movement.
I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Filed my 1040X electronically about 6 weeks ago after discovering I missed claiming my home office deduction and some business equipment purchases. The waiting is absolutely brutal, especially when you need that money for estimated taxes. I've been checking the WMAR tool religiously, but it still just shows "processing." From what I've read in various forums, the IRS prioritizes regular returns during filing season, so amendments get pushed to the back of the line. It's frustrating that in 2024 we still can't get faster processing for what should be straightforward corrections. Has anyone had luck calling the taxpayer advocate service if the delay impacts your ability to pay quarterly taxes?
I haven't personally used the taxpayer advocate service for amendment delays, but I've heard mixed results from others in similar situations. From what I understand, they typically only get involved when there's significant financial hardship or the IRS hasn't followed their own procedures. Since you're at 6 weeks and the normal timeframe is 8-16 weeks, they might tell you to wait longer. However, if missing your Q2 estimated payment deadline would cause penalties that exceed the refund amount, that could qualify as hardship. Have you considered making the estimated payment anyway and treating the eventual refund as a bonus? I know it's not ideal when cash flow is tight, but the failure-to-pay penalties can add up quickly.
Javier Mendoza
might wanna try a different tax software tbh. I switched from TurboTax to FreeTaxUSA and haven't looked back
0 coins
Emma Thompson
ā¢this is the way
0 coins
Malik Davis
ā¢TurboTax be charging way too much fr
0 coins
Marcus Williams
Also double check that you're entering the IP PIN in the right field - sometimes TurboTax has multiple PIN fields and people accidentally put it in the wrong spot. The IP PIN should go in the Identity Protection PIN section, not the electronic filing PIN area. That mix-up causes rejections too.
0 coins