how to calculate depreciation on a rental property for taxes
You generally depreciate the cost of business property that has a useful life of more than a year, but gradually wears out, or loses its value due to wear and tear, weather damage, etc. To figure out the depreciation on your rental property: 1  Determine your cost or other tax basis for the property.2  Allocate that cost to the different types of property included in your rental (such as land, buildings, so on).ou're allowed to reduce your rental income by subtracting expenses that you incur to get your property ready to rent, and then to maintain it as a rental. You report rental income and expenses on Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss. Schedule E is then filed with your Form 1040.