Capital Improvements vs. Repairs and Maintenance Expenses

Understanding The Differences Between Capital Improvements vs. Repairs

Being a real estate investor involves regular attention to your properties. One location may need new flooring in the kitchen, while the other might have a stubborn leak in the bathroom.

It’s important to invest money into addressing these issues, especially when you know that you can deduct them at tax time. Of course, you can’t deduct these two projects in the same way, because one is a capital improvement and the other is a repair. The difference between capital improvements vs. repairs can be tricky to distinguish, but you’ll need to know it when you file your taxes.

What are Capital Improvements?

As a real estate investor, you will make a certain number of capital improvements to the property throughout your term of ownership. These improvements increase the property value, and they’re not usually something that you have to do on a regular basis. Common capital improvements might include:

Upgrades to the flooring or countertops
Room additions
Room renovations, such as a basement remodel
Occasional replacement of necessary features, such as the roof or driveway

It’s not always easy to tell whether a project is a capital improvement. As a rule, if it increases the home value or extends the lifespan of the structure, it’s probably a capital improvement.

What Distinguishes Capital Improvements From Repairs

Repairs and maintenance are the kinds of tasks that you have to do regularly to preserve the property’s condition. They may not increase the value as much as maintain it. You might have dozens of maintenance tasks for a property each month, and a handful of repair bills each year. Common projects in this category are:

Pool cleaning
Resealing a roof
Patching cracks in a driveway
Repairing an appliance
HVAC maintenance

Most of the time, you won’t spend as much money on repairs as you pay for capital improvements.

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What Are the Tax Implications

Tax time is when you need to understand the difference between capital improvements and repairs. Generally, you can deduct the expenses you pay for repairs and maintenance in full for the year that you do the work.

Capital improvements must be capitalized and depreciated over time. The way that you depreciate it depends on the item and its natural lifespan. For example, if you replace a roof with a 10-year lifespan, you divide the cost and claim one-tenth of it for each year.

How Do Investors Make a Choice

Although most repairs, replacements and upgrades fit into one of these two categories, it’s not always clear which one is the correct choice. It’s wise to consult your accountant before making an investment. Your ability to claim capital improvements may depend on the type of property or your status as owner. In some cases, you can’t claim improvements as a deduction. In those instances, you might have to use the improvements to adjust the cost basis of the property, which could lower your capital gains taxes when you are ready to sell.

Understanding the way that your regular expenses and property improvements affect your taxes can help you minimize your tax liability. At Renovo Financial, we offer convenient loan programs tailored to investors. Contact us for more information or to apply.

Contact Us

Ready to get started? Want to learn more about how we can help you grow your investment business? Call us at (888) 568-8894, email us at origination@renovofinancial.com or fill out the form below and a representative will be in touch within 1-5 business days.

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