Can I change the amount on my rental tax form?

Question

I just received my form from my landlord stating the amount of money I paid in rent in 2006, for doing my taxes. But the amount is VERY wrong, it's short by a thousand dollars. (I know this because I lived there for only October, November and December in 2006, so that math wasn't hard to do)...can I change the amount to be correct? Would that benefit me, in a refund sense?

Answer 1

Go back to the landlord with copies of your receipts or cancelled checks, and ask for a corrected form. The landlord probably just made a mistake and added wrong - this should not be hard to get corrected. You could even just call and explain the problem, and ask for a corrected form. Changing a form that someone else has signed is not legal.

I assume when you're referring to some state refund/rent rebate program. Having the correct amount would probably benefit you, and in any case would be the right thing to do.

This wouldn't affect your federal return.

Answer 2

I'm not sure how this rental tax is going to affect your tax return. Are you filing Schedule C for self-employed and deducting part of your home for business use, or itemizing your deduction with sales tax and actual receipts? For most people the sales tax on rental doesn't affect their tax returns.

If you are using the rental tax in anyway for your tax returns, then it is best that your landlord correct the record in case you are audited in the future.

Best wishes.