Tea_and_biccies

A friend has been renting our UK house, but is due to leave in July. I need to empty out the last of my stuff and get the house on with a lettings agency. I have asked the in-laws to help, but they're not keen (though I reckon they'll do it at a push). We've not been here a year yet, and are trying to buy a house, etc..

Are flights back to the UK covered as an allowable expense against a rental property? Line 6 (Auto and travel) of form 1040, Schedule E..? And if so, as my OH is working, can I claim my kids' flights too?

Bink

I'm not a tax expert so this is only some nutter on the web's perspective but...

I suspect you may be able to put down your flight cost as an allowable expense if you can show it was necessary for you to go and maintain the property yourself. I can't see that you could put down your children's flight costs as there isn't really any justification that they needed to go in order for the property to be maintained. Just my $0.02

Pulaski

FWIW I think you'd need to prove not only that you needed to go, but also that you didn't do anything else while you were there. So no visits with friends or family, no leisure shopping, no tourist stuff, just fly in, perform your tasks at the house. and return to the airport. In short, I think you'd be pushing your luck to try claiming it on your taxes.