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The Global Insight

Can you claim a rental property as your principal residence?

Author

Sarah Garza

Updated on March 09, 2026

Designating Your Principal Residence If you rent out your house for part of the year, you can still name it as your principal residence as long as you were living there for some time during the year. If you rented out your house for part of the year, you can name it as your principal residence when you move back in.

What are two proofs of principal residence?

Other types of proof may be required to establish where one’s principal residence is. This can include utility bills with the occupant’s name and address, a driver’s license with the address, or a voter registration card.

How do I report rental income from primary residence?

In most cases, a taxpayer must report all rental income on their tax return. In general, they use Schedule E (Form 1040) to report income and expenses from rental real estate. If a taxpayer has a loss from rental real estate, they may have to reduce their loss or it may not be allowed.

Can husband and wife claim separate primary residence?

And even if you split your time evenly between two residences, you can’t designate both as your main home. This is because both the credit and exclusion are only available for your main home. When you sell your home, the IRS allows joint filers to exclude up to twice as much capital gain as a single filer.

What is the principal residence exemption?

The principal residence exemption is an income tax benefit that generally provides you an exemption from tax on the capital gain realised when you sell the property that is your principal residence. Generally, the exemption applies for each year the property is designated as your principal residence.

When does a home become a principal residence?

They owned the home and used it as their primary residence in at least two of the five years preceding the sale of the property. They did not acquire the home through a like-kind exchange in the past five years. They did not exclude the gain from the sale of another home two years prior to the sale of this home. 3 3

Do you rent out your principal place of residence?

However, as an increasing number of Australian home owners decide to invest in property, many are also choosing to rent out their principal place of residence. Home owners choose to rent out their principal place of residence for a number of reasons.

Can a family unit designate one principal residence per year?

No. 1: One per family A family unit can only designate one property per year as a principal residence. A family unit is you, your spouse (or common-law partner) and any children under the age of 18. No. 2: Must inhabit the home

How does absence affect the standing of a principal residence?

While absences from the home for vacation or long-term medical care do not affect the standing of a principal residence 1 , protracted lack of occupancy for other reasons may disqualify it.