Can I depreciate my VA loan property?

Can I depreciate my VA loan property?

Investor 路 Member since 2022 路 11 posts 路 4 votes

Military guy here, I used the VA loan to buy a home in Texas, lived there for 2 years then got orders to Florida. I'm currently renting it out (3 months now) and changed the home insurance to rent out. The property is still under my name through the VA loan. Can I depreciate the property? Or do I have to refinance into a conventional loan and wait for next years taxes to depreciate?

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Real Estate Agent 路 Newton, IL 路 Member since 2020 路 19 posts 路 22 votes
4y

The type of loan that you have shouldn't impact your ability to depreciate an asset, since the asset and the lien on that asset (the loan) are two seperate items.

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  • CPA 路 Colorado Springs, CO 路 Member since 2016 路 413 posts 路 258 votes
    4y

    @David Navidad - It shouldn't matter if the loan is VA or conventional to depreciate it.

  • Real Estate Agent 路 Newton, IL 路 Member since 2020 路 19 posts 路 22 votes
    4y

    The type of loan that you have shouldn't impact your ability to depreciate an asset, since the asset and the lien on that asset (the loan) are two seperate items.

  • Investor 路 Member since 2022 路 11 posts 路 4 votes
    4y

    I knew it. Thanks a bunch!

  • Investor 路 Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk 路 Member since 2021 路 4k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @David Navidad:

    Military guy here, I used the VA loan to buy a home in Texas, lived there for 2 years then got orders to Florida. I'm currently renting it out (3 months now) and changed the home insurance to rent out. The property is still under my name through the VA loan. Can I depreciate the property? Or do I have to refinance into a conventional loan and wait for next years taxes to depreciate?

    You can't depreciate a property you live in. However, if you lived in the property for 2 of the last 5 years you are not taxed on the capital gains. When you do your taxes, there is a form that says you sold the property, when you sold it and for how much. 

    And once it becomes a rental, there is a form for when you changed it to a rental, how many days it was rented in the tax year, how much you collected, etc and you have to depreciate the property from then on. It's IRS rules. They will treat it as depreciated even if you don't take the wonderful tax writeoffs it offers.

  • Investor 路 Member since 2022 路 11 posts 路 4 votes
    4y

    @Account Closed I don鈥檛 live in it anymore. I leased it out to a tenant 3 months ago. Was there something I had to fill out or do to change it to a rental? 

  • Investor 路 Scottsdale Austin Tuktoyaktuk 路 Member since 2021 路 4k+ posts 路 4k+ votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @David Navidad:

    @Account Closed I don鈥檛 live in it anymore. I leased it out to a tenant 3 months ago. Was there something I had to fill out or do to change it to a rental? 

    No, it is all done when you file your 2021 taxes. Just keep all records and receipts so you can file properly. You can use a CPA, Taxpreparer, TurboTax Home & Business (available at Staples & Office Depot) it walks you through the steps using "Yes/No" questions) or by getting forms from IRS.gov) 

  • Investor 路 Member since 2022 路 11 posts 路 4 votes
    4y

    @Account Closed thanks for the help! 馃檹馃徑

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