Appliances are typically 5-year property
Residential rental appliances — refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines — are generally classified as 5-year MACRS property. Carpeting is typically 5-year as well. These items depreciate much faster than the building and, unlike the building itself, may qualify for bonus depreciation.
Furniture is generally 5- or 7-year property
Furniture in a furnished rental (beds, sofas, tables) is generally 5-year or 7-year MACRS property depending on type. Because these shorter-life assets depreciate faster, they throw off a proportionally larger deduction in the early years of the rental.
Track them separately from the building
To claim the shorter recovery period, list appliances and furniture as separate assets on your depreciation schedule — not rolled into the building's 27.5-year line. Keep receipts and record the placed-in-service date and cost for each item. If you didn't break them out at purchase, a cost segregation study can identify and reclassify them.
Frequently asked questions
What MACRS class are rental appliances?
Generally 5-year property, compared to 27.5 years for the building itself.
Can rental appliances receive bonus depreciation?
Yes — 5-year personal property qualifies for bonus depreciation, unlike the building structure.
Sources
- IRS Publication 946 — How to Depreciate Property
- IRS — Cost Segregation Audit Techniques Guide
- IRS Publication 527 — Residential Rental Property
Educational information and estimates only. Not tax advice. Tax rules change and vary by situation; consult a qualified tax professional before acting.