Casselberry FL Tax Preparation for Landlords and Rentals
Updated September 26, 2026
A page for Casselberry landlords
Casselberry is one of the cities right beside Longwood, so our office at 2941 W State Rd 434, Suite 100 is a short trip away. This page is for people who collect rent, whether that is one condo or a small collection of homes.
Rental owners are our clearest example of a person for whom a basic return is not enough. There is more to track, and a small mistake in the records tends to repeat all year.
How rental income is treated, according to the IRS
The IRS explains that real estate rental income and expenses are generally reported on Schedule E. If you provide substantial services mainly for your tenants' convenience, the reporting can move to Schedule C instead.
- Advance rent: generally counted as income in the year you receive it, no matter which period it covers.
- Lease cancellation payments: money a tenant pays to end a lease early is income.
- Expenses a tenant pays for you: these count as income too, though they may be deductible for you.
- Security deposits: not income if you may have to return them, but income if you keep them, for example after a lease breach or damage.
Common deductible costs include repairs, depreciation and operating expenses, subject to the IRS rules.
Homestead and rentals do not mix
The Florida Department of Revenue describes the homestead exemption as applying to a permanent residence. A property you rent to someone else is not your permanent residence. So if you own both a home you live in and a rental, only the home you live in is the homestead question.
You would apply to the Seminole County Property Appraiser, at 1101 E. 1st Street in Sanford, for the home you live in. Its regular window is January 1 through March 1. Pre-filing runs from March 2 through December 31 for the following tax year.
Cost, without the guesswork
A base return depends on who you are. A simple W-2 return starts at $99, a family return at $299 and a self-employed return at $299. The rental add-on is $125 for the first property and $60 per additional property.
Bookkeeping, starting at $300 a month, makes sense once you have several units or when rent and repair receipts are piling up. We give the real fee in a written quote, with e-file and processing fees listed. See our guide to the rental property tax basics as well.
From Casselberry to filed, all online
You complete our short intake and list your properties. We reply with the quote. You send in a rent summary and expense records through a secure link, we prepare, and you review. E-signing finishes it. A landlord juggling repairs and tenants does not need one more appointment.
Record habits that save a landlord's spring
Set up one dedicated account for rent and property costs. Log every rent payment the day it arrives. Photograph each repair invoice and label it with the unit. Keep a separate note for security deposits, showing which were returned and which were kept and why.
Do this monthly, not yearly. A short ledger with clear dates makes the return faster to prepare, and it makes your own view of the property clearer. If you would prefer that someone else keeps the ledger, our bookkeeping service exists for that reason.
Adding a second property later
Buying another rental changes the return. Each additional property is a $60 add-on, starting price, and it means one more set of records. Tell us when a purchase or sale closes, and keep the closing papers, because the dates matter to the return.
Landlord checklist
- Total rent received for each property, by month if possible.
- Lease agreements and any early termination payments.
- Security deposit records, including any amounts you kept.
- Receipts for repairs, insurance, property tax and mortgage interest.
- The date you bought each property and its purchase price paperwork.
- Records of any advance rent collected.
- Your ID, Social Security number, and last year's return.
We prepare returns only. We do not give legal advice or handle tenant disputes, and we do not represent anyone before the IRS.
Owners of several units should list every address in the intake, so nothing is left out of the quote.
Casselberry landlords are welcome to send a spreadsheet if that is how the numbers are kept.
A real preparer reviews and signs your return. You see the written quote before we start.
FAQ
Do I report rent if I lost money on the property?
Rental activity is generally reported even when expenses are high. How losses are treated has its own rules, and we will go through your details in the quote and intake.
Is a security deposit taxable?
The IRS says not if you may be required to return it. It becomes income if you keep it, for example because of damage or a lease breach.
What if I rent only part of the year?
Send us the dates and amounts. We will report what applies to the period you actually rented.
Can you help with my lease disputes?
No. We prepare tax returns and do not give legal advice.
Nearby areas we serve
Sources
General information, not tax advice for your specific situation. Zero Fuss Taxes is a PTIN-holding tax preparation firm. We are not a CPA firm, enrolled agents or attorneys.