Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)

Definition of "Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS)"

Term given to two depreciation systems defined by the Internal Revenue Service:

  1. The main system is called the General Depreciation System (GDS). Under GDS, most property is assigned to eight property classes based on their class lives. These property classes provide the recovery period to be used by establishing the number of years over which the basis of an item in a class is recovered.
  2. The Alternative Depreciation System (ADS) generally provides for a longer recovery period and uses only the straight line method of depreciation to figure your tax deduction.


Both systems establish conventions determining how many months property can be depreciated in the first year it is placed in service and in the year of disposition.

  1. 20-year property. This class includes property such as farm buildings.
  2. Residential rental property. This class is comprised of rental buildings or structures for which 80% or more of the gross rental income is from dwelling units. Examples are living in a house or apartment. It excludes hotels and motels. Residential rental property is depreciated over 27.5 years.
  3. Nonresidential real property. This class includes real property that is not residential rental property. This property is depreciated over 31.5 years.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Real Estate Terms

Process of simultaneously appraising several pieces of property. Normally, occurs when a local government conducts a reassessment. ...

Horizontal supports for the ceiling of a structure. ...

A group of investment bankers underwriting and distributing a new or outstanding issue of securities of a real estate business. a professionally managed limited partnership investing in ...

Organization that manages the relocation of the employees of client companies from one area of the country to another. A relocation service will manage home sales and purchases in another ...

Underground pit or tank used to store sewage. ...

One who has died with a valid will in effect. ...

Fee simple estate is a term used to describe ownership or freehold of an estate and the type of ownership of an estate. The possessory interest, also referred to as fee (a word derived from ...

A written, legally enforceable document used to transfer title to real estate, See also quit claim deed; warranty deed. ...

Revocation comes from the verb "to revoke", which means to take back the validity of something. The definition of revocation is detrimental to contract law. It gives the person making the ...

Popular Real Estate Questions