Can I Deduct Homeowner Insurance on a Rental House?

If you own a rental property, you might be wondering which expenses you can deduct on your tax return. Homeowner insurance is one of the costs associated with renting a residence to tenants. It is critical to have enough coverage on the rental property in a loss.

Landlords can minimize their tax liability by deducting the cost of homeowners insurance on their rental property.

Rental Deductions at a Glance

You can deduct various expenses incurred as the owner of a rental property on your income tax return as a landlord. Mortgage interest, property taxes, depreciation on the property, maintenance and repairs, cleaning and yard work, and homeowner insurance are all eligible for deductions. These deductions are made on Schedule E (Supplemental Income and Loss) on your tax return.

Insurance Coverage for a Rental Property

As a landlord, you'll want to insure the rental home's structure. Additionally, you may want coverage if someone is injured on the rental property. Since you are renting the property to earn money, the insurance can also assist and protect you against income loss.

Homeowner insurance policies are typically written to cover the policyholder's primary residence. It is not intended for a rental property. You'll almost certainly need to purchase landlord insurance to safeguard the rental home's structure against losses caused by fire and smoke, wind, hail, theft, and vandalism.

Landlord insurance is not synonymous with traditional homeowner insurance. Because the rental property is classified as a company rather than a residence, coverage is more expensive than a homeowner's policy.

Additionally, the landlord insurance may include a liability component. If someone is hurt on your property, you are not personally liable for the claimant's damages and court fees.

Additionally, your plan may provide some income protection in a loss. If your rental property is destroyed and your renter must vacate the premises while repairs are done, your insurer may compensate you for the rental income lost.

How to Take a Homeowners Insurance Deduction

You would deduct insurance on a rental house on Schedule E at tax time (Supplemental Income and Loss). When completing the form, you'll need to include information regarding the amount of rent collected and if you used the property during the year.

In the field provided on the form, enter the amount you paid for rental house insurance. Combine it with your other expenses to determine your deductibles from rental income for the year. It will determine whether your Form 1040 shows an overall profit or loss.