[quote=EconProf][quote=skerzz]The majority of W-2 workers that own rental property in California generally will not benefit from depreciation deductions (losses on rental properties). I won’t go into all the specifics, but unless you are a full time real estate professional you won’t be able to offset ordinary income with passive rental losses. There is an exception to this rule based on income limitations — however, those that own rentals in SoCal or the Bay Area are likely making too much money to realize the benefit.[/quote]
Please explain yourself here. A W-2 worker is exactly the taxpayer who can most use the depreciation “expense” that goes with owning rental real estate. While he may have a positive cash flow from rents minus cash expenses, he also gets to deduct depreciation “expense” every year. This lowers the property’s taxable income, maybe even making it negative for tax purposes. The result is lower total taxable income. In fact, the higher his W-2 taxable income, the greater the tax benefit from owning rental properties.[/quote]skerzz is partially correct. You can benefit from depreciation deduction, just like everyone else, but the amount you can deduct decreases when you make >$150k. After $150k AGI, you can no longer apply passive loss from rental property toward your active W-2 income. So, if you make $145k and have $50k “loss” in investment property, your new AGI would be $95k. However, if you make $155k, you cannot apply the $50k “loss” toward your active W-2 income. Unless you’re a real estate professional.
This is another prime example of social engineering. If you’re a couple and one of you make close to $150k, there’s very little reason for the other person to go back to work, especially if you have a few investment properties that net a huge “loss”. It would only make sense for the other spouse to go back to work if the other spouse becomes a real estate agent/broker.
