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Employee
December 12, 2024
Question

Can I report the rental expense if the contractor doesn't deposit my check by 12/31/2024?

  • December 12, 2024
  • 1 reply
  • 0 views

I hired a contractor to renovate my rental property in October this year. I gave him a check, and he provided me with a receipt. However, as of today, he hasn't cashed or deposited the check. If he doesn't deposit the check by 12/31/2024, can I still report it as a rental expense on Schedule E of my 2024 tax return?

There is no way to select accounting method on the Schedule E.

    1 reply

    DoninGA
    Employee
    December 12, 2024

    Payment was made in 2024 so you report the expense on the 2024 Schedule E for the rental property.

    manbeingAuthor
    Employee
    December 12, 2024

    even though the money is actually still in my bank account?

    I think we are supposed to use cash basis? (not accrual basis)?

    M-MTax
    December 12, 2024

    You lose control of the funds when you write the check and hand it to the contractor or put in the mail.