In December of Year 4, John (a cash-basis taxpayer) received a $2,000 payment from Tom who signed a year's lease to rent John's house. The $2,000 payment consisted of the following: 1st Month's Rent (for the month of December, Year 4) $800Last Month's Rent (for the month of December, Year 5) 800Security Deposit (to be returned at end of lease) 400

How much should John include as rental income on his Year 4 tax return as a result of the $2,000 payment?

John should include $1,600 as rental income on his Year 4 tax return as a result of the $2,000 payment.

Explanation:

As a cash-basis taxpayer, John's taxable income is based on the actual cash receipts and payments made in the accounting period.  The refundable part of the rent should not be included as rental income since it is a security deposit that would be returned at the end of the lease period.  If John were an accrual-basis taxpayer, the rental income to be included would have been only $800 representing income for Year 4.

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