Tenant texted me that she needs a rent receipt for taxes. No problem , but I’ve never had anyone ask . They don’t need it to file taxes. She then asks me to put it in her name only so that she can get a bigger tax return ( single mom). Yeah right!!!! I’m not being a party to her tax fraud, assuming that’s what she is doing. I can’t beleive she put it all in a text. Lease is in name of her and her BF , so that is who is on the receipt ( Quickbooks). I just don’t really understand why she needs a receipt because she could claim whatever she wants on her taxes and a rent receipt is not required. I have NEVER had anyone ask for one. Simple to do because I can just email from QB, but wondering why she really needs it ... in her name only.

In NY, Tenant is entitled to a receipt if they ask. So I would have to give them one. If they paid, what is the problem with giving them a receipt? What they do with it is their business.

Who pays the rent. Yes, the lease is in both names, but who actually writes the check or transfers the money. If it is her, then she should get the receipt in her name. Many married people (myself included) keep our monies separate and have no joint accounts. I will bet it is an even higher percentage among non-married.

There are lots of reasons people live together and don't get married and it is perfectly legal for them to do that. If the system allows them to file taxes that way to get more money, that to is legal.

I mail rent receipts every month, with a short newsletter (tips on managing the house, fun things to do on the cheap in the area.)

Then, at tax time, I gladly fill out the homestead tax forms my tenants use to get the Homestead credit on their state taxes. Other states have this as well. One tenant asked could I put it (homestead form) in her Mom’s name, as a run around on a tax issue. Nope, told tenant I will not ever try to outfox the government, or others. Never works well for me. Tenants’ names only, written just as they are on the lease/ rental contract. RentsDue, my state has income qualifications for the Homestead Credit, if I recall. That could be why your tenant is asking for her name only. I won’t ever lie or omit information to a government agency on tenant’s behalf. Not worth it for me. And, trains tenants that I am comfortable with lying/ omitting when it serves my purpose.

I can see where you got the handle "Busy," as in "busywork." I get the feeling that you are up there in years, and only have a tenant or two.

Absolutely correct Jeff.

Yep,

inner social worker. Check.

Hobbyist landlord. Check

Opinionated. Check

Value people over things. Check

Love to help others learn. Check

Will always have less than ten units. Check

Aim to never know a lawyer. Check.

Still make money. Check

I try to be open with this, as someone looking to be the next multi-millionaire/ billionaire, needs to know, I am all about process, not product. So, those persons need to qualify my answers. (She’s just a ...) For me, it’s about enjoying the ride, not some lofty financial goal, that in order to attain, one has to sell their soul. I still make some money, . First of all, because I operate in an area a lot of landlords , even some on this forum, have referred to as hell holes. I rent to wonderful families. I also have known of some really despicable people who live in ‘ nice areas’. There is gobs of profit to be made in the inner-city, IF one has the ability to help tenants stay on the straight and narrow. This tenant I referred to has paid for my house, plus all of the improvements so far. She would have gotten the heave-ho by other landlords several times over. Much easier for me to prop up tenants I know, (emotionally, spiritually) than to churn tenants, have vacancy, spend all of that time pouring over credit reports, dealing with court systems, and just end up with SSDD. (Same s___, different day.)

Does that mean I don’t have some good advice now and again. Even for the hot shot BRRRR , suuuupper excited to get started next gazillionaires? You tell me, Jeff.

Nowadays, receipts in writing are only needed for cash rent payments. Direct deposit and other banking methods have paper trails. With checks, the cancel check is actually a receipt.

Fred, in MY state, and, if I understand correctly, in the Commonwealth of Mass, there is a state tax credit for the ‘property taxes tenants pay via their rent. ‘In my state, the form MUST be filled out by LL, with no mistakes.

It is, of course, a way for the state to encourage landlords to report the rents on landlord’s taxes. Yes, the landlord’s home address on the Homestead form is cross-checked by the state. ( oh, crapola, there I go again, being an idiot blabbermouth hobbyist intent on self -destruction! I use my actual address on my landlord documents, don’t ever do this anyone. It is mandatory, you will be hunted down and a- -l raped , daily, by your tenants. Oh, wait, how about don’t be an —-hat?? That might also lesson chances of imminent retribution)

I don't really think it matters what the tenant's issue is. They want a receipt for their payment, give them a receipt. As long as your end is legal, if they are doing some sort of fraud, that isn't your problem.

More likely, there is some sort of tenant tax credit in your area.

Myself, I would do it like I do the refund. All names on the lease go onto the receipt.

I would give the receipt in whoever name(s) paid the bill.

RentsDue,