You'll want to consider these tax tips for renting out your vacation home whether you are hosting every weekend or just a few times a year. Renting your getaway occasionally can be a great strategy to offset some of your expenses. That's fine, as long as you don't set off any alarms with the IRS. You may also have to consider state and local taxes, depending on the type of rental you offer.
So, whether you are signing up with Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway or a private listing, read on to save money and headaches at tax time.
Tax tips for renting out your vacation home
1. If you rent out your house for 14 days or fewer during the year, you don't have to report the rental income on your tax return. And there's no limit to how much you can charge. The house is considered a personal residence so you deduct mortgage interest and property taxes just as you do for your primary home. However, you cannot deduct any rental expenses if you stay within the 14-day limit.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
For more on the tax benefits and considerations involving tax-free rental income, see Kiplnger's report: Tax-Free Rental Income: IRS Legal Rules to Know.
2. If you rent out your house for more than 14 days, you become a landlord in the eyes of the IRS. That means you have to report your rental income. But it also means you can deduct rental expenses. It can get complicated because you need to allocate costs between the time the property is used for personal purposes and the time it is rented.
Your rental property's expenses, such as repairs, maintenance, property taxes, and mortgage interest, can be deducted from the rental income, which can lower your tax liability. Most landlords will need to report their rental income and expenses on Form 1040 or 1040-SR, Schedule E, Part I.
Also, keep in mind that some states and localities may charge an additional tax on short-term rentals like Airbnb or VRBO. As Kiplinger has reported, proposed legislation in California, for example, would levy a 15% tax on such rentals as a way to help pay for affordable housing.
3. If you use the place for more than 14 days or more than 10% of the number of days it is rented — whichever is greater — it is considered a personal residence. You can deduct rental expenses up to the level of rental income. But you can't deduct losses.
4. The definition of "personal use" days is fairly broad. They may include any days you or a family member use the house (even if the family member is paying rent). Personal days also include days on which you have donated use of the house — say, to a charity auction — or have rented it out for less than fair market value.
5. If you limit your personal use to 14 days or 10% of the time the vacation home is rented, it is considered a business. You can deduct expenses and, depending on your income, you may be able to deduct up to $25,000 in losses each year. That's why many vacation homeowners hold down leisure use and spend lots of time "maintaining" the property; fix-up days don't count as personal use.
Read More
- Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
- Tax-Free Rental Income: IRS Legal Rules to Know
- 5 Great Places to Buy a Vacation Home
- Demand for Vacation Homes Down 50% from Pre-Pandamic Levels
-
3 Ways to Stretch the 2026 Social Security COLA For Your BudgetThree steps retirees can take to stretch the Social Security COLA to fit their budgets.
-
How to Keep Your Charitable Giving Momentum Going All YearInstead of treating charity like a year-end rush for tax breaks, consider using smart tools like DAFs and recurring grants for maximum impact all the year.
-
Uber Takes Aim at the Bottom Lines of Billboard LawyersUber has filed lawsuits and proposed a ballot initiative, in California, to curb settlements it claims are falsely inflated by some personal injury lawyers.
-
New 2026 Tax Change Could Mean More for Your IRA and 401(k) SavingsRetirement Savings Here's how the new IRS inflation adjustments will increase the contribution limits for your 401(k) and IRA in the new year.
-
3 Ways High-Income Earners Can Maximize Their Charitable Donations in 2025Tax Deductions New charitable giving tax rules will soon lower your deduction for donations to charity — here’s what you should do now.
-
10 Retirement Tax Plan Moves to Make Before December 31Retirement Taxes Proactively reviewing your health coverage, RMDs and IRAs can lower retirement taxes in 2025 and 2026. Here’s how.
-
When to Hire a Tax Pro: The Age Most Americans Switch to a CPATax Tips Taxpayers may outsource their financial stress by a specific age. Find out when you should hire a tax preparer.
-
Three Critical Tax Changes Could Boost Your Paycheck in 2026Tax Tips The IRS predicts these tax breaks may change take-home pay in 2026. Will you get over $1,000 in tax savings?
-
RMDs, Roth, and SS: Test Your Knowledge of Retirement Tax RulesQuiz Don't let the IRS catch you off guard. Take our quiz to reveal common retirement tax rules that could save (or cost) you thousands.
-
IRS Reveals New 2026 Child Tax Credit and other Family Credit AmountsTax Credits Key family tax breaks are higher for 2026, including the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Adoption Credit. Here's what they're worth.
-
Claiming the Standard Deduction? Here Are Five Tax Breaks for Retirement in 2025Tax Tips If you’re retired and filing taxes, these five tax credits and deductions could provide thousands in relief (if you qualify).
