The Hours You Worked Aren't the Problem. The Hours You Never Wrote Down Are.

Real estate professional status and the short-term rental exception both come down to one test the IRS actually runs: not what you did, but what you can prove you did, and when you wrote it down.

You've heard about the STR loophole and REPS from a course, a group chat, or a CPA who mentioned it once. What most of that content skips is the part that decides whether the deduction survives an audit. The IRS doesn't ask if you worked the hours. It asks for the log that was kept while you worked them. A spreadsheet built in April, after the fact, is exactly what gets thrown out.

Answer honestly and you'll get a straight verdict on both tests, STR and REPS, plus the specific gap between where you are now and where you'd need to be to defend it.

The tests inside this quiz are the same ones an examiner actually applies, not a simplified version of them.

Takes about 2 minutes. 12 short questions, no math required.

1. Do you currently rent out any property short-term, through Airbnb, VRBO, or direct bookings? *

Yes

No

UTM Source

UTM Campaign

UTM Term

UTM Medium

UTM Content

FBCLID

GLID

2. What's the average length of stay for guests at this property? *

7 days or less

8 to 30 days

More than 30 days

3. Do you, or staff working for you, provide real hotel-like services to guests, things like daily housekeeping, fresh linens, concierge help, or prepared meals? *

Yes

No

4. Check every box below that's true for how you actually run this property. Checking just one is enough to pass this question. *

I worked more than 500 hours on this property this year.

I did substantially all the work myself. No one else, including other owners, did more than I did.

I worked more than 100 hours, and no one else worked more hours on it than I did.

This is one of several rental activities I'm significantly involved in (100+ hours each), and together they add up to 500+ hours this year.

I materially participated in this activity in at least 5 of the last 10 years.

This is a personal service activity I materially participated in for at least 3 prior years.

I'm regularly, continuously, and substantially involved (100+ hours), and no one else is paid more or manages more of it than I do.

5. What's your tax filing status? *

Single

Married filing jointly

Married filing separately

Head of household

6. This tax year, did you, or your spouse alone if you're married filing jointly, spend more than 750 hours working in real estate? That's building, buying, renting, managing, or selling property. *

Yes

No

7. A rough estimate is fine, we're not asking for an exact number down to the hour. Just get us in the right range. *

Under 100 hours

100 to 250 hours

250 to 500 hours

500 to 750 hours

8. This is the rule that trips up most full-time employees. It's a real and separate test from the 750-hour one. *

Yes

No

9. How many separate rental properties do you own? *

Just 1

2 or more

10.Have you filed, or will you file, an election to treat all of your rental properties as one combined activity? *

Yes

No

Not sure

11. Check every box below that's true for how involved you actually are in your rental activity. Checking just one is enough to pass this question. *

I worked more than 500 hours on this activity this year.

I did substantially all the work myself. No one else, including other owners, did more than I did.

I worked more than 100 hours, and no one else worked more hours on it than I did.

This is one of several activities I'm significantly involved in (100+ hours each), and together they add up to 500+ hours this year.

I materially participated in this activity in at least 5 of the last 10 years.

This is a personal service activity I materially participated in for at least 3 prior years.

I'm regularly, continuously, and substantially involved (100+ hours), and no one else is paid more or manages more of it than I do.

Name *

Email *

Phone *

Next

This tool is for educational purposes only and does not constitute tax or legal advice. Consult a licensed CPA or tax attorney before relying on this result for your tax return.

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