Can I expense my phone bill against my rental income? I live outside the country but have a phone primarily to make sure I get messages from tenants / building management

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
March 20, 2025
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JohnB5677

If the phone is used for a business, or to manage rental properties it can be expensed based on the percentage of personal vs professional use.

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rahulv85Author

Thanks, would 50% be a safe number?

Additionally, can i expense my travel (flights, cabs etc) if I came to the U.S. to rent the property? And if I come back to the U.S. to check-in on the tenants, can I expense those travel expenses? What would be includes in such travel expenses (flights, cabs, other?)?

JohnB5677

The phone use is what it is. It can be 100% if you have a second phone for personal calls.

You should be filling a Schedule E for a rental property included in your tax return.
Please see IRS Publication 463, for travel expenses

On page 9 it says

If your trip was primarily for business and, while at your business destination, you extended your stay for a vacation, made a personal side trip, or had other personal activities, you can deduct only your business-related travel expenses. These expenses include the travel costs of getting to and from your business destination and any business-related expenses at your business destination.

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