Can I claim an exterior door purchased for rental property

Yes. It is a rental expense. Technically, it is an improvement, but since it is probably a small amount and not worth depreciating.

De Minimis Safe Harbor Election

This election for items $2,500 or less is called the De Minimis Safe Harbor Election. This election is an option you can take each year that lets you write off items $2,500 or less as expenses instead of assets. Expenses typically reduce your income by a larger amount than depreciating an asset over multiple years does. This means you could get a bigger refund.

If you decide to take this option, a form called De Minimis Safe Harbor Election will show up in your tax return. This election will apply to all your businesses, rental properties or farms.

Here are the rules you need to meet to take this election:

• You don't have an applicable financial statement (most people don't).
• You have a consistent process for how you record expenses and assets.
• You record these items as expenses on your books/records.
• The cost of each item as shown on your receipt is $2,500 or less.

To choose the Safe Harbor Election, you will just need to add the purchase of the door as an asset.  To do this after you walk through the steps of entering your rental property you will get to a screen for expenses and will enter the door as a miscellaneous expense by entering the door description and price in the boxes provided.  There is not a special form that it will be reported on.  It will simply go on your Schedule E as other expense.

By entering the cost of the door as an expense you are taking the election.