If you rent a home to others, you usually must report the rental income on your tax return. But you may not have to report the income if the rental period is short and you also use the property as your home. In most cases, you can deduct the costs of renting your property. However, your deduction may be limited if you also use the property as your home. Here is some basic tax information that you should know if you rent out a vacation home:

• Vacation Home.  A vacation home can be a house, apartment, condominium, mobile home, boat or similar property.
• Schedule E.  You usually report rental income and rental expenses on Schedule E, Supplemental Income and Loss. Your rental income may also be subject to Net Investment Income Tax.
• Used as a Home.  If the property is “used as a home,” your rental expense deduction is limited. This means your deduction for rental expenses can’t be more than the rent you received. For more about these rules, see Publication 527, Residential Rental Property (Including Rental of Vacation Homes).
• Divide Expenses.  If you personally use your property and also rent it to others, special rules apply. You must divide your expenses between the rental use and the personal use. To figure how to divide your costs, you must compare the number of days for each type of use with the total days of use.
• Personal Use.  Personal use may include use by your family. It may also include use by any other property owners or their family. Use by anyone who pays less than a fair rental price is also personal use.
• Schedule A.  Report deductible expenses for personal use on Schedule A, Itemized Deductions. These may include costs such as mortgage interest, property taxes and casualty losses.
• Rented Less than 15 Days.  If the property is “used as a home” and you rent it out fewer than 15 days per year, you do not have to report the rental income.
• Use IRS Free File.  If you still need to file your 2013 tax return, you can use IRS Free File to make filing easier. Free File is available until Oct. 15. If you make $58,000 or less, you can use brand-name tax software. If you earn more, you can use Free File Fillable Forms, an electronic version of IRS paper forms. Free File is available only through the IRS.gov website.

Publication 527 is available on IRS.gov. You can also call 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) to get it by mail.

WASHINGTON  The next 2014 IRS Nationwide Tax Forum will be held at National Harbor in Maryland near Washington, D.C., and the IRS invites enrolled agents, certified public accountants, certified financial planners and other tax professionals to attend. Those who sign up by the pre-registration date of Aug. 5 will save $130 off the on-site price.

The IRS Nationwide Tax Forums are three-day events that provide tax professionals with the most up-to-date information on federal and state tax issues presented by experts from the IRS and its partner organizations through a variety of training seminars and workshops. John M. Dalrymple, IRS Deputy Commissioner for Services and Enforcement, will give the keynote speech at the National Harbor forum.

The forums previously held this summer in Chicago, San Diego and New Orleans were well attended. Including the upcoming forum at the National Harbor, there are only two remaining opportunities to attend a forum this year.

Remaining Forums

The cost of enrollment for those who pre-register is $225 per person, a savings of $130 off the late or on-site registration price of $355.  Pre-registration ends two weeks prior to the start of each forum.

More than 40 separate seminars and workshops are being offered, and enrolled agents and certified public accountants may earn up to 18 Continuing Professional Education Credits in each location.  Additionally, these seminars may qualify for continuing education credit for certified financial planners, pending review and acceptance by the Certified Financial Planner Board.

A few days before the start of each forum, attendees will be able to download, print or to load onto their mobile devices slide presentations from the seminars.

National Participating Association Members

Members of the participating associations below qualify for discounted enrollment costs if they meet the pre-registration deadlines above. Members who meet the early registration deadline would pay $215 and should contact their association directly for more information:

• American Bar Association (ABA)
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
• National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA)
• National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP)
• National Society of Accountants (NSA)
• National Society of Tax Professionals (NSTP)

Case Resolution Room

After a one year hiatus, the IRS Case Resolution Program has returned to the Tax Forums.  Between 2011 and 2012, the Case Resolution staff has worked over 2,100 cases with a resolution rate of over 97 percent. Tax professionals who plan to meet with IRS representatives about actual cases are reminded to bring a valid power of attorney.

Exhibit Hall

In addition to the seminars, the forums also feature a two-day expo with representatives from tax, financial, and business communities offering their products, services and expertise designed with the tax professional in mind.

In a survey of 2013 attendees, the forums received an overall 94 percent satisfaction rate. 2014 marks the 24th year that the IRS has hosted these forums to help educate and interact with the tax professional community.

Registration Information

For more information, or to register online, visit  www.irstaxforum.com.