09/01/2026
Lost money on a house flip? Don’t assume you can only deduct $3,000.
Depending on how your real estate activity is classified, you may potentially be able to deduct the entire loss in the current year.
The key question: Does the IRS consider you an investor or a real estate dealer?
An investor generally faces the $3,000 annual limitation on net capital losses against ordinary income.
But if your flipping activity qualifies as a business and you’re considered a dealer, qualifying losses may be able to offset ordinary income in full.
The IRS can look at factors like:
✔️ Why you purchased the property
✔️ The renovations you completed
✔️ How quickly you marketed it for sale
✔️ Whether you operated like a business
✔️ Your overall intent
There are tradeoffs, though. Dealer status can change how future profits are taxed and affect strategies such as 1031 exchanges.
The takeaway: How you structure and document your real estate activity matters.
Before your next flip, make sure you understand the tax implications.
Call Kingdom Financial Solutions at 860-490-9741 to discuss your tax strategy.