My 2021 and 2022 taxes for my real estate business

You should file for 2021 to claim your 2021 expenses, even if you haven't received income yet if you were actively engaged in your business. You can show a loss on Schedule C when filing taxes, with no income to offset other income.

So you could file an amended return for 2021, to include Schedule C to take your 2021 expenses.
 

Even without income, you may be able to deduct your expenses, as long as you meet certain IRS guidelines. Your business loss can offset other income on your tax return and lower your overall tax bill.

You do not need to make a profit to be operating a trade or business but you do need to have a profit motive.
 

Regarding whether to file business taxes with no income for 2021, you shouldn’t file if:

• You weren’t actively engaged in a trade or business.
• You were preparing to begin your business.

If you were actively engaged in your trade or business in 2021, but didn’t receive income, then you should file and claim your expenses. 

For 2022, your Schedule C would include any additional 2022 expenses, and your income from your business.

When you can deduct an expense depends on your accounting method.

An accounting method is a set of rules used to determine when and how income and expenses are reported.

The two basic methods are the cash method and the accrual method.

Whichever method you choose must clearly reflect income. For more information on accounting methods, see Pub. 538.

Click here for Pub 538.

Cash method. Under the cash method of accounting, you generally deduct business expenses in the tax year you pay them.

Accrual method. Under the accrual method of accounting, you generally deduct business expenses when both of the following apply. 1. The all-events test has been met. The test is met when: a. All events have occurred that fix the fact of liability, and b. The liability can be determined with reasonable accuracy. 2. Economic performance has occurred. Economic performance.

You generally cannot deduct or capitalize a business expense until economic performance occurs. If your expense is for property or services provided to you, or for your use of property, economic performance occurs as the property or services are provided, or the property is used. If your expense is for property or services you provide to others, economic performance occurs as you provide the property or services.

Example. Your tax year is the calendar year. In December 2022, the Field Plumbing Company did some repair work at your place of business and sent you a bill for $600. You paid it by check in January 2023.

If you use the accrual method of accounting, deduct the $600 on your tax return for 2022 because all events have occurred to “fix” the fact of liability (in this case, the work was completed), the liability can be determined, and economic performance occurred in that year.

If you use the cash method of accounting, deduct the expense on your 2023 tax return.

Click here for detailed information on "How to File an Amended Return with the IRS."

Click here for information on how to correct your Federal Return.

Click here for a TurboTax video on how to amend your tax return.