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Frequently Asked Tax Questions And Answers

Keyword: Recovery Period


11.1 Sale or Trade of Business, Depreciation, Rentals: Depreciation & Recapture

In calculating depreciation on both my rental apartment building and its furniture, what depreciation type, asset class, depreciation method, and recovery period should be used?

You can claim a special depreciation allowance for qualified property you acquired after September 10, 2001 and before January 1, 2005. The allowance is a depreciation deduction equal to 30% of the property's depreciable basis. The special depreciation is figured before you calculate your regular depreciation. To qualify for the special deduction the property must:

  • Be new property that is depreciated under MACRS with recovery period of 20 years or less.
  • Be property that was acquired after September 10, 2001 and before January 1, 2005.
  • Be property that was placed in service Before January 1, 2005.
  • Be property that the original use began after September 10, 2001.
  • See Publication 946, How to Depreciate Property for additional information on the special deduction.

    The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 modified the bonus depreciation rule by substituting a 50% special depreciation allowance for the 30%, for property acquired after May 5, 2003 and before January 1, 2005. No binding contract for acquisition can be in effect before May 6, 2003. Property eligible for the 50% additional first-year depreciation is not eligible for the 30% additional first-year depreciation. However, an election can be made to have the 30% additional first-year depreciation deduction apply to 50% depreciation property instead of the 50% additional first year depreciation deduction. It is also possible to elect not to claim the additional first-year depreciation deduction.

    References:

    We replaced the roof on a residential rental property and need to know what to use for the classification and recovery period to calculate depreciation?

    Replacement of a roof on a residential rental property is a capital improvement to the structure. The roof is in the same class of property as the property to which it is attached. Since the property is residential rental property, the roof is generally depreciated over a residential rental property recovery period of 27.5 years using the straight line method of depreciation and a mid-month convention. You cannot write off (or take a loss on) any remaining basis in the replaced roof. For more information, refer to Publication 527, Residential Rental Property, and Publication 946, How to Depreciate Property.

    References:

    How many years do I depreciate a new furnace installed as an improvement on residential rental property and what method do I use to compute the depreciation?

    Replacement of a furnace in a residential rental property is a capital improvement to the structure. The furnace is in the same class of property as the property in which it is installed. Since the property is residential rental property, the furnace is, generally, depreciated over a recovery period of 27.5 years using the straight line method of depreciation and a mid-month convention. For more information, refer to Publication 527, Residential Rental Property, and Publication 946, How to Depreciate Property.

    References: