The questions to ask your accountant before tax time.

Short stays where you provide hotel-like services (cleaning during the stay, supplies, concierge) can be treated as a business, which usually means self-employment tax. Plain rentals usually aren’t. Ask which form yours belongs on.

Platform fees, cleaning, supplies and repairs are often deductible. Costs you share with personal use (utilities, insurance, upkeep) usually have to be split by how much the asset is rented. Ask how to split yours.

For 2026, platforms generally send a 1099-K once you pass $20,000 and 200 transactions. Your rental income is taxable either way; the form only reports it.

Many cities charge a hotel-style tax on short stays. Airbnb collects it in many places, but not every platform does, and not for every kind of rental. Ask what applies in your city.

Income, fees and expenses for each asset, plus the dates it was rented versus used personally. Ask what format your accountant wants.

If you rent your home for 14 days or fewer in a year, that income is generally not taxable, but you also can’t deduct rental expenses.

If you use the home yourself for more than 14 days, or more than 10% of the days it’s rented, the vacation-home rules can limit your deductions.

With an average stay of 7 days or less and enough personal involvement in running it, rental losses may be able to offset other income, such as a salary. This one is aggressive and depends heavily on your facts.

Depreciation is often the biggest deduction for a rental home, and it has consequences when you sell.

Square footage and hours of use usually drive how much of rent, mortgage interest, utilities and insurance you can claim.

Lights, grip, furniture and backdrops may be deducted all at once or over several years, depending on cost and how you use them.

Hourly bookings with services (equipment, setup help, staff) are more likely to be treated as a business.

Occasional rentals of a home may fall under the 14-day rule. Ask whether yours qualifies.

This isn’t settled. Some advisors treat hourly pool rentals as renting part of your home; others don’t. Ask before you count on it.

Chemicals, heating, water, cleaning and repairs are usually split by how much the pool is rented versus used by you.

Things you buy mainly for guests (a heater, cabana, loungers, towels, a restroom upgrade) may be deductible or depreciable.

Many homeowners policies limit coverage for business use. A rider or separate policy may be needed and is usually a deductible cost.

Yes, even if you never receive a 1099-K. Ask how to report it simply.

Usually small: a share of upkeep, security or insurance for the space, if any. Ask whether it’s worth tracking.

Not usually a tax question, but worth checking with your HOA before you list.

You can often choose between a standard mileage rate and actual costs (depreciation, insurance, repairs). The choice you make in the first year can lock you in later.

If you also drive the car personally, deductions are usually limited to the share of use that’s for the rental.

Car sharing is often reported as business income, which usually means self-employment tax.

Deductions taken while renting can be partly taxed back when you sell. Ask how it applies to you.

As with a vacation home, heavy personal use can limit what you can deduct.

Dockage, maintenance, insurance, fuel and cleaning for charter use are often deductible, split between rental and personal use.

Whether you pay a captain directly or the renter does changes how the income and costs are reported.

Depreciation can be significant, and it has consequences when you sell.

An RV with sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities can be treated like a vacation home, so your personal-use days may limit deductions.

Insurance, storage, maintenance, cleaning, delivery and platform fees are often deductible, split between rental and personal use.

Depreciation can be one of the biggest deductions, and it has consequences when you sell.

Adding services like delivery and setup can make it look more like a business, which may mean self-employment tax.