Aside from all the great camping features you get with your RV, there’s a benefit that you may not know about. Your RV or travel trailer might qualify for tax benefits and deductions depending on how you use it. There are quite a few tax write-offs you may qualify for and help save some money for more camping trips with your family.
Can You Write-Off Your RV From Taxes
Tax deduction is available for RV owners whether their RV is old or new because many states allow you to deduct the cost of your RV from your taxable income. Certain tax deductions may also apply if your RV serves as your primary residence. Another way you can enjoy some tax benefits is if you run a company out of your RV, such as by working from it or renting it out.
RV Tax Benefits
Mortgage interest
You're probably aware of the mortgage interest tax deduction. For those who have taken out a loan to acquire an RV, the interest you pay on that loan could be deductible as well because it's considered a second residence by federal standards. The majority of recreational vehicles are eligible as long as they have "sleeping, cooking, and toilet facilities" permanently attached. Traditional RVs, on the other hand, should be OK. Just keep in mind this tax benefit only pertains to the RV itself. If you use a truck or other vehicle with a loan on it to pull it, then you can't deduct the interest on that loan.
Rental business
If you are renting out your RV, you can deduct rental-related expenses. To successfully do this you will have to keep comprehensive records throughout the year, retain all receipts, and make a note of any damages after each rental, since this will help you avoid penalties.
If your RV is exclusively rented out, these deductions are very simple because virtually all of the costs associated with RV maintenance may be deducted as a business expense. The complexity of tax deduction is much higher if you are using your RV for business purposes and personal travel, because you can only deduct taxes for the times you rented your RV out.
Business travel
If you ever take your RV on work trips, you may be able to deduct some of your RV expenses from your taxable income. You may be able to deduct expenses like campsite fees and other travel costs, as well as business miles travelled, if this is the case.
Keep in mind that only business-related miles can be deducted from your taxable income. You can also claim business miles traveled away from your RV if you're a full-time RVer and your RV is your home office. However you can not deduct business miles travelled if you are just transferring your RV from one location to another.
RV Tax Deductions
RV As a Second Home
The house mortgage interest deduction is the primary and most often used RV tax write-offs. Even if your RV is only utilized for a few days a year, you may still apply this advice if it is your permanent residence. Only if you borrowed money to buy your RV or trailer can you take advantage of this tax break since it lets you deduct the interest you paid over the course of the year. Your RV or trailer must fulfill certain standards in order to be eligible for the interest tax deduction. These rules are in place to prevent people from claiming an uninhabitable house as a second residence. So long as your RV is habitable, you should be good to qualify for this tax deduction.
Sales tax deduction
Large purchases like vehicles, significant house improvements, and boats typically have sales tax included in the price and the same holds true for your recreational vehicle. However, unlike mortgage interest, you may deduct sales tax even if you paid cash for your equipment. Keep in mind that you can deduct the sales tax only once but it’s still a substantial sum of money you can have for your trips.
Registration fees
State and municipal governments can each impose registration fees, or a combination of the two. For the most part, they're computed using a formula based on the vehicle's weight and value. RV tax deductions are available based on the value of the vehicle, thus a more expensive vehicle qualifies for a larger deduction.
Business taxes
Some RVers want to know if they may deduct the cost of their camper from their company taxes. Recreational vehicles, such as campers, motorhomes, towables, and RVs, may be eligible for company tax deductions based on how they are used. If you use your RV to work from it and run your business you can deduct expenses as a business deduction tax.
The purchase of an RV is a significant financial commitment for most families, on par with the purchase of a car or even a second home. These types of tax benefits for RV owners make it less expensive to live in an RV. Make sure the way you use your RV qualifies for the tax incentives by consulting with a trusted tax professional who has experience in this area. That way you’ll know exactly which benefits and taxes you can deduct and how much money you can save.
