SECTION 4. CHANGE IN METHOD
Internal Revenue Bulletin 2021-27 · 2026-10-03 edition · updated 2026-10-04 · United States
OF COMPUTING DEPRECIATION FOR RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY HELD BY AN ELECTING REAL PROPERTY TRADE OR BUSINESS
.01 Impermissible method to permissi- ble method of determining depreciation .
(1) In general . Beginning with the election year, an electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure must depreciate residential rental property within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure in accordance with the ADS using a 30-year recovery period. For such property, a change in use occurs under § 168(i) (5) and § 1.168(i)-4(d) for the election year and depreciation for the election year and each subsequent taxable year is determined in accordance with § 1.168(i)-4(d) (4) or § 1.168(i)-4(d)(5)(ii)(B), as applicable. If an electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure does not depreciate residential rental property within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure under the ADS using a 30-year recovery period for the election year and the subsequent taxable year in accordance with § 1.168(i)-4(d)(4) or § 1.168(i)-4(d) (5)(ii)(B), as applicable, then that trade or business has adopted an impermissible method of accounting for depreciation for that residential rental property. As a result, a change from that impermissible method of accounting to a method of accounting for depreciation under which the electing real property trade or business
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determines depreciation for the residential rental property in accordance with § 1.168(i)-4(d)(4) or § 1.168(i)-4(d)(5)(ii) (B), as applicable, by using the straightline method, the 30-year recovery period, and the mid-month convention under the ADS is a change in method of accounting under § 446(e). See § 1.446-1(e)(2)(ii)( d ) ( 2 )( i ). An electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure may change from the impermissible method of determining depreciation to the permissible method of determining depreciation for residential rental property within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure in accordance with section 4.04 of this revenue procedure.
(2) Electing real property trade or busi- ness has not adopted a method of account- ing for the residential rental property . For residential rental property that is within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure and held by a trade or business that is within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure and that made the election under § 163(j)(7)(B) and the regulations thereunder for the taxable year immediately preceding the year of change, as defined in section 3.19 of Rev. Proc. 2015-13 (1year residential rental property), the electing real property trade or business may change from the impermissible method of determining depreciation to the permissible method of determining depreciation for the 1-year residential rental property. This change may be accomplished by filing a Form 3115 in accordance with section 4.04(2) of this revenue procedure, provided the § 481(a) adjustment reported on the Form 3115 includes the amount of any adjustment attributable to all property, including the 1-year residential rental property, subject to the Form 3115. Alternatively, the electing real property trade or business may change its depreciation for the 1-year residential rental property by filing an amended Federal income tax return or information return, or an AAR, as applicable, for the election year provided the amended Federal income tax return or information return, or AAR, as applicable, is filed prior to the date the electing real property trade or business files its Federal income tax return or information return for the taxable year succeeding the election year.
.02 Impermissible method to permissi- ble method of general asset account treat- ment .
(1) In general . If the residential rental property is within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure and is included in a general asset account, an electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure must change to the general asset account treatment for such property provided in § 1.168(i)-1(h)(2) for the election year. If an electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure does not change to such general asset account treatment for the election year and the subsequent taxable year, then that trade or business has adopted an impermissible method of accounting for general asset account treatment of that residential rental property. As a result, a change from that impermissible method of accounting to the method of accounting provided in § 1.168(i)-1(h)(2) is a change in method of accounting under § 446(e). See § 1.446-1(e)(2)(ii)( d )( 2 )( vi ). An electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure may make this change in method of accounting for residential rental property within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure in accordance with section 4.04 of this revenue procedure.
(2) Ordering rules . If, for the same taxable year, an electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure makes the change in method of accounting described in section 4.01 of this revenue procedure and also makes the change in method of accounting described in this section 4.02 for the same residential rental property, the taxpayer applies the change in method of accounting described in section 4.01 of this revenue procedure first.
(3) Electing real property trade or business has not adopted a method of ac- counting for the residential rental proper- ty . For residential rental property that is within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure, is included in a general asset account, and is held by a trade or business that is within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure and that made the election under § 163(j)(7)(B) and the regulations thereunder in the taxable year immediately preceding the year of
change, as defined in section 3.19 of Rev. Proc. 2015-13 (1-year residential rental property), the electing real property trade or business may change to the method of accounting provided in § 1.168(i)-1(h)(2) for the 1-year residential rental property. This change is accomplished by filing a Form 3115 in accordance with section 4.04(2) of this revenue procedure. Alternatively, the electing real property trade or business may change to the method of accounting provided in § 1.168(i)-1(h)(2) for the 1-year residential rental property by filing an amended Federal income tax return or information return, or an AAR, as applicable, for the election year provided the amended Federal income tax return or information return, or AAR, as applicable, is filed prior to the date the electing real property trade or business files its Federal tax return or information return for the taxable year succeeding the election year.
.03 Retroactive change in method of accounting . The Commissioner allows an electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure to make the change in methods of accounting described in sections 4.01(1) and 4.02(1) of this revenue procedure retroactively for residential rental property within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure under section 4.04(1) of this revenue procedure for a limited period of time, provided the electing real property trade or business files the amended Federal income tax return(s) or information return(s), or AAR(s), as applicable, within the time and manner provided in section 4.04(1) of this revenue procedure. A Form 3115 is not required to be filed with such amended Federal income tax return(s) or information return(s), or AAR(s).
.04 Changing to the permissible method of determining depreciation . The electing real property trade or business within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure may change from the impermissible methods of accounting to the permissible methods of accounting described in sections 4.01(1) and 4.02(1) of this revenue procedure for residential rental property within the scope of section 3 of this revenue procedure by filing either:
(1) Except as provided in Rev. Proc. 2021-29, 2021-27 I.R.B. 12, released on www.irs.gov on June 17, 2021, regarding
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the time to file amended returns by a partnership subject to the centralized partnership audit regime enacted as part of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA partnership), an amended Federal income tax return or amended Form 1065 for the election year on or before April 15, 2022, but in no event later than the applicable period of limitations on assessment for the taxable year for which the amended return is being filed. In the case of a BBA partnership that chooses not to file an amended Form 1065 as permitted under Rev. Proc. 2021-29 or that cannot file an amended Form 1065 because the date for doing so has expired under Rev. Proc. 2021-29, the BBA partnership may file an AAR for the election year on or before April 15, 2022, but in no event later than the applicable period of limitations on making adjustments under § 6235 for the reviewed year as defined in § 301.6241-1(a)(8) of the Procedure and Administration Regulations. This amended return or Form 1065, or AAR, must include the adjustment to taxable income for the change in determining depreciation of the residential rental property and any collateral adjustments to taxable income or to tax liability. Such collateral adjustments also must be made on original or amended Federal income tax returns or Forms 1065, or AARs, for any affected succeeding taxable years. If the residential rental property is included in a general asset account, the taxpayer also must make the adjustments in § 1.168(i)-1(h)(2)(ii) and (iii)(B); or
(2) A Form 3115 under the automatic change procedures or non-automatic change procedures, as applicable, in Rev. Proc. 2015-13 (or any successor). If the electing real property trade or business is eligible to make this method change under the automatic change procedures- (a) The method change described in section 4.01 of this revenue procedure is described in section 6.05 of Rev. Proc. 2019-43, 2019-48 I.R.B. 1107 (or any successor), as modified by section 5.02 of this revenue procedure. The § 481(a) adjustment for such method change as of the first day of the year of change is calculated as though the change in use occurred for the residential rental property in the election year; and
(b) The method change described in section 4.02 of this revenue procedure is
described in section 6.04 of Rev. Proc. 2019-43 (or any successor), as modified by section 5.02 of this revenue procedure. This change is made on a modified cut-off basis, as defined in § 1.446-1(e)(2)(ii)( d ) ( 5 )( iii ).
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