Find an accountant for landlords and property investors

What a landlord accountant does

• Reports rental income and expenses on your tax return
• Claims every allowable expense: repairs, insurance, agent fees, maintenance, travel and professional fees
• Handles depreciation in the USA and capital allowances where they apply in the UK
• Plans for capital gains tax before you sell
• Advises on owning property personally, jointly, in an LLC or in a limited company
• Deals with short-term and holiday lets, which can be taxed differently
• Sets up record keeping, including for Making Tax Digital in the UK

Rental property tax in the USA

Rental income and expenses are usually reported on Schedule E. Residential rental buildings are generally depreciated over 27.5 years, which creates a deduction even though you are not spending cash, but that depreciation is "recaptured" and taxed when you sell. Passive activity rules can limit using rental losses against other income, with exceptions for some active landlords and real estate professionals.

Investors often ask about a 1031 exchange, which can defer gain when you sell one investment property and buy another under strict rules and deadlines. An accountant should be involved before the sale, not after.

Rental property tax in the UK

UK landlords report rental profits through Self Assessment. For individual landlords, mortgage interest is no longer deducted from rental income; instead you get a basic rate tax credit of 20% of the interest (often called Section 24), which can push higher-rate taxpayers into a bigger bill. This is one reason some landlords consider owning through a limited company, which has its own costs and trade-offs.

When you sell a residential property that is not your main home, capital gains tax must be reported and paid within 60 days of completion. Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies to landlords from April 2026 for those with qualifying income over £50,000.

How much does a landlord accountant cost?

Many charge a fixed fee per tax return, with the price depending on the number of properties, or an annual package that includes planning. Advice on selling, restructuring or incorporating is often a separate fixed project fee. Accountancy fees for your letting business are normally an allowable expense.

Related guides

• Self Assessment accountant (UK)
• Tax accountant: planning and advice
• How much does an accountant cost?
• Questions to ask an accountant before hiring

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